How we form a category
Explore how varied examples can belong to one category.
The picture in words
- Category
- A concept groups related examples.
- Prototype
- Some examples come to mind more readily.
- Variation
- Category members can look and behave differently.
Reading the illustration
Compare the birds before reading the category label. A prototype is a familiar or typical example used in thinking about a category.
Try a question
How can a penguin belong to the same category as a sparrow?
Show the explanation
A category includes more than its most familiar example. Penguins and sparrows are both birds, despite their different features and ways of moving.
Read the sources
- Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020). Psychology 2e. OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/7-1-what-is-cognitionSelected rendered passages on concepts and prototypes, reviewed in the topic-selection research.