PSYCH 2H03 Chapter Notes - Chapter 9: Exemplar Theory, Prototype Theory, Family Resemblance
22 Mar 2016
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Family resemblance: members of a category resemble one another. In general, family resemblance relies on some number of features being shared by any group of category members, even though these features may not be shared by all members of the category. Family resemblance is a matter of degree, not all or none. Prototype theory: mental categories are represented by mens of a single best example , or prototype, identifying the centre of the category. Decisions about category membership, and inferences about the category, are made with reference to this best example, which is often an average of the examples of that category that the person has actually encountered. Categories have a graded membership, such that objects closer to the prototype are better members of the category than objects farther from the prototype. Sentence verification task: participants are given simple sentences and must respond as quickly as possible whether the sentence is true or false.
