PSYC 336 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Eleanor Rosch, Mental Representation, Prototype Theory

• School: University of San Diego
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 336
• Professor: Appleton-Knapp

Document Summary

Rosch argues that there is a natural level of categorization. Basic-level categorization the natural and most informative level of categorization, neither too specific nor too general. Easier to explain what members of a category have in common with one another. Subordinate categories are more specific, more inclusive. More difficult to explain what members of a category have in common with one another. Children learning to talk often acquire basic-level terms earlier than either the more specific subcategories or the more general, more encompassing categories. Basic-level categories reflect a natural way to categorize the objects in our world. Exemplar-based reasoning reasoning that draws on knowledge about specific category members, or exemplars, rather than drawing on more general information about the overall category. Categorize objects by comparing them to a mentally represented. The standard for prototype theory prototype average representing the entire category. Standard for exemplar whatever example of the category comes to mind.