Yeah, maybe I said it a bit too harshly but that's more of what I meant by saying basis of. You can take something that has some truth (after all, humans do have some things that would absolutely fit into essentialism) then make it so ubiquitous that you start applying it to things that don't fit it, like inclination to commit criminal acts etc. The issue is in the degree to which it is applied, not necessarily the belief itself.