Elitism is the belief or notion that individuals who form an elite—a select group of people with intrinsic and desirable qualities such as high intellect, wealth, power, physical attractiveness, notability, special skills, experience, lineage, or other desirable traits—are more likely to be constructive to society as a whole, and therefore deserve influence or authority greater than that of others. The term elitism may be used to describe a situation in which power is concentrated in the hands of a limited number of people. Beliefs that are in opposition to elitism include egalitarianism, anti-intellectualism, populism, and the political theory of pluralism.