Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Concepts refer to mental representations of categories or ideas that share common features. They help us organize and understand the world around us.
Related terms
Categories: Categories are groups or classes that share similar characteristics. They are closely related to concepts and help us make sense of the information we encounter.
A schema is a mental framework that helps organize and interpret information. It's like a blueprint that guides our understanding of specific situations or events.
A prototype is an idealized example or representation of a concept. It's the typical image we have in mind when we think about a particular category. For example, when you think about the concept "fruit," an apple might be your prototype because it represents the typical characteristics of fruits.