Terry's view of parents who have many children has always been that they are selfish or irresponsible. terry then moves next door to a woman who has eight children. terry's view of parents with many children is challenged when she learns that her neighbor, despite her many children, is very generous, responsible, and caring. terry's original belief, or about what families with lots of children should be like, is a type of social category.

stereotype

Explanation:

Stereotypes are preconceived ideas and beliefs that we have about a certain group of people which in may cases is based on being judgemental or based on prejudice, these are the beliefs that we conclude in our mind from a distance without truly testing them in real life.

Terry had a stereotype that if people have many kids they probably are selfish and irresponsible until he met his neighbour who showed something opposite to Terry's false beliefs by being a responsible and generous parent despite having many kids.