Categories and Concepts

Question 1

Functions of Categorization

Answer 1

1) Classification
2) Understanding
3) Predicting
4) Communication

Question 2

Classification

Answer 2

Groups different objects into the same category

Question 3

Understanding

Answer 3

Identifying the intentions of a situation

Question 4

Predicting

Answer 4

Uses past experiences to know what to expect

Question 5

Communication

Answer 5

Uses specific words to describe ideas efficiently

Question 6

Illusion of the Expert

Answer 6

The feeling that a task must be simple for everyone because it is simple for oneself

Question 7

Prototype Theory

Answer 7

We categorize objects by comparing them to an internal “best” representation of a given category

Question 8

Exemplar Theory

Answer 8

We categorize objects by comparing them to every previously-stored experience (exemplar) in a given category

Question 9

Category Membership

Answer 9

Members of the same categories share similar characteristics

Question 10

3 Levels of Category Distinction

Answer 10

1) Basic
2) Subordinate
3) Superordinate

Question 11

Basic

Answer 11

• Most common
• Most abstract level that objects have similar
• ex. chair

Question 12

Subordinate

Answer 12

• More specific
• Low accuracy, high predictive power
• ex. windsor chair

Question 13

Superordinate

Answer 13

• More genera
• High accuracy, low predictive power
• ex. furniture