Categories and Concepts - 6 Flashcards
Classification
(a function of categorization) the ability to classify dissimilar objects together in the same group → ex. Despite red, green and yellow apples looking different, we can classify them all as apples and assume they’re safe to eat
understanding
the ability to evaluate a situation and act appropriately based on prior experiences → ex. If we come across two people shouting, we understand they probably don’t want our opinion
communication
the ability to describe complex ideas or objects using a single label
illusion of the expert
the feeling that a task must be simple for everyone because it is simple for oneself
prototype theory
makes us categorise new objects by comparing them to our prototypes
exemplar theory
we categorise objects by comparing them to EVERY (multiple) previously stored experience in a given category
prototype theory vs exemplar theory chart
protoype= more simple, internal average
exemplar = multipple experiences
evidence suggests that children as young as 3 can categorize
Katie knows her dog likes doggy treats so she can generalize to assume all dogs like doggy treats
Anomia
A disorder in which an individual loses their ability to name
common objects. These individuals are still able to understand the object’s
function.
Borderline Members
Category members that do not clearly belong inside or outside of a particular category
Categorization
The act of assigning an item to a particular category. It
involves grouping objects, events, and ideas together.
Category
A set of objects or events in the real world that are grouped
together, often on the basis of similarity.
Concepts
An understanding of a category.
Essentialism
members of a category have deep underlying
properties that cause them to be in that category.
-natural/unchanging characteristics
Family resemblance
The idea that members of a category share
overlapping features, even though each individual feature may not be
shared amongst all members. Family resemblance suggests that all
members of a category resemble one another.
Graded Membership
some category members are more
representative of a category than others and are closer in degree to the
category prototype.
Category Prototype
Think of the most typical category member: This is often called the category prototype. Items that are less and less similar to the prototype become less and less typical. At some point, these less typical items become so atypical that you start to doubt whether they are in the category at all.
Ill-defined Category
A category that cannot be defined using rules. Most
categories are ill-defined.
Natural Kinds
Objects that exist in the natural world. This includes plants,
animals, and non-living things such as rocks and water.
Object Agnosia
A disorder in which individuals cannot recognize objects
despite having perfect vision.
Old Item Advantage Effect:
its easier to categorize already known items compared to new items.
One advantage exemplar theory has over prototype theory is that it explains
the ‘old item advantage effect’
Prototype Theory
heory of categorization of 1
‘ideal’ member for each category that represents the average or ‘best’ of all
category members
Sentence Verification Task
An experimental procedure in which
participants are presented with a sentence and must determine whether
that sentence is true or false as quickly as possible.
Typicality
How representative a category member is of that particular
category.
Understanding
One of the functions of categorization. It is our ability to
evaluate a situation and act accordingly.
Well-defined Category:
A category that can be defined using rules.
