Prototype View
We categorize by comparing something to a mental prototype, an idealized or average representation of the category.
Why a prototype instead of a stored example?
Not one specific example, just your general idea of what a bird “is like.” Handles graded membership cleanly: a robin matches the bird prototype better than a penguin, so it feels more typical.
Eleanor Rosch’s work is the foundation.
Problem
Vague about where exact category boundaries come from, and struggles with categories that depend on strict rules.
Still similarity-based. Contrasts with Exemplar View (compares to stored specific examples, not an average) and with explanation-based accounts.