What term describes the process where individuals are treated differently based on social characteristics?

The term that describes the process where individuals are treated differently based on social characteristics is social differentiation. This concept refers to the way society categorizes people based on perceived differences, such as race, gender, class, or other social attributes. Through social differentiation, individuals may experience varying levels of privilege, access to resources, and treatment from others, often leading to hierarchical structures within society.

Social stratification refers to the division of society into hierarchical layers based on social characteristics, which is related but distinct, as it focuses more on the outcomes of these differences rather than the categorization process itself. Cultural divergence is the process by which different cultures become more dissimilar over time, while class conflict is typically associated with the tensions and struggles between different social classes rather than the broader category of treatment based on social characteristics.