Concepts and Categories Flashcards
(12 cards)
Why are concepts important?
They allow us to make predictions and draw inferences.
They allow for cognitive economy.
They allow for communication.
What are the 3 levels of Natural Categories?
Superordinate
Basic
Subordinate
What are basic level categories?
Best level at which to summarise categories.
Spontaneous naming
Large number of unique features - features are common to examples in category but not to examples from other categories.
Recognized most rapidly + acquired first.
What are defining attributes?
Attributes that are individually necessary and collectively sufficient for category membership
What are some issues with defining attributes?
Definitions can be impossible to find.
Some instances are more typical than others.
Eg Car better example of a vehicle than surfboard. Or it would be recognised quicker that a robin is a bird than an ostrich.
Boundaries between concepts can be fuzzy.
Eg A chair and a bench have very similar attributes.
What is the prototype theory?
A concept is represented by a single instance (prototype)
- prototype has all the attributes of the category
- categorisation is based on similarity to prototype
Eg prototype bird - has wings, flies, lays eggs.
What are issues with prototype theory?
Only one example
- throws away info about relations between attributes
Eg small birds more likely to sing than large ones
What is the Exemplar theory?
Concept is a set of ALL known instances.
Categorisation is based on similarity to exemplars
Eg
bird = robin, eagle, penguin, duck
Vs
bird = prototype bird
What is a positive of the Exemplar theory?
It retains category variability info which the prototype theory does not.
What are the issues with Similarity theories (prototype + exemplar)?
Concept combination
- is a pet fish more similar to pets or to fish?
Ad hoc categories
- ambiguity surrounding attributes required
Eg Things to save if your house caught on fire
Categorisation not always on basis of perceived similarity
What is the Explanation-based theory?
Concepts contain knowledge of relationships between attributes and items.
Eg light bones, feathers, wings = ability to fly
Includes different developmental stages of same animal
Eg Frogs and tadpoles
What are the problems with the Explanation theory?
What is an ‘explanation’/ ‘theory’?
It assumes unconstrained knowledge
