An account in which category judgments rely on similarity to an abstract or representative summary. It naturally explains centrality and generalization effects, but must be distinguished from exemplar theory and from a descriptive typicality gradient.
Prototype theory is a cognitive science concept that explains how humans categorize and understand concepts and objects. Developed in the 1970s by cognitive scientist Eleanor Rosch, this theory posits that instead of categorizing items based on strict definitions or a set of necessary and sufficient conditions, people categorize them based on typical or "prototypical" examples. ### Key Features of Prototype Theory: 1. **Prototypes**: A prototype is the most representative or "best" example of a category.
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