7.1 Mental Images and Concepts in Thinking

Prototype

an example of a concept that closely matches the defining characteristics of a concept

Basic Level Type

an example of a type of concept around which another similar concepts are organized, such as "dog," "cat," or "pear."

Natural concepts

concepts people form as a result of their experiences in the real world.

Formal concepts

concepts that are defined by specific rules or features.

Concepts

ideas that represent a class or category of objects, events, or activities.

Thinking (cognition)

mental activity that goes on in the brain when a person is organizing and attempting to understand information and communicating information to others.

Mental Images

mental representations that stand for objects or events and have a picture-like quality.

Rule

relationship between two concepts

Superordinate concept

the most general form of a type of concept, such as "animal" or "fruit."

Subordinate concept

the most specific category of a concept, such as one's pet dog or a pear in one's hand