When a person thinks of a concept such as "bird," the person usually ________.
A) constructs a mental list of key attributes of a bird
B) has to identify the particular type of bird before a concept of a bird can be generated
C) thinks of a prototype of a bird that captures for them the essence of the concept
D) eliminates all the attributes of being a nonbird

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The theory of prototypes suggests that when people think of a concept, they form a prototype, which is a mental image or best example that captures the key features of the concept. Therefore, when someone thinks of a bird, they likely think of a prototype bird that includes characteristics such as wings, feathers, the ability to fly, etc. They do not necessarily construct a mental list of key attributes or have to identify a particular type of bird before generating the concept. They also do not necessarily eliminate attributes of being a non-bird, as this would require knowledge of all possible non-bird attributes, which is not necessary for forming a concept of a bird.

When a Person Thinks of a Concept Such as "Bird