TY - JOUR
T1 - Making use of social prototypes
T2 - From fuzzy concepts to firm decisions
AU - Niedenthal, Paula M.
AU - Cantor, Nancy
N1 - Funding Information:
Preparation of this manuscript was supported by Grant #BNS-8022253 from the National Science Foundation. We wish to thank Sara Freeland for her help in preparation of this manuscript.
PY - 1984/9
Y1 - 1984/9
N2 - Evidence suggestive of the 'fuzzy' structure of many natural language (as opposed to scientific) categories is reviewed. Examples are drawn from categorization schemes for objects, such as cars, fruit or tables, as well as for people, such as extroverts, hippies and 'fraternity types'. It is argued that despite the fuzziness of natural categories, there is orderliness and utility to these concepts, as well. Specifically, natural categories are organized around prototypes, representative category members, which serve as reference points for the category. The identification of category members involves a prototype-matching process. Prototypes about 'kinds of people' can be very useful in decisions about people with whom to affiliate and places in which to live. This process was illustrated by reference to a case analysis of students' preferences for university housing. It was concluded that natural categories may well be fuzzy, but they are far from being dispensible.
AB - Evidence suggestive of the 'fuzzy' structure of many natural language (as opposed to scientific) categories is reviewed. Examples are drawn from categorization schemes for objects, such as cars, fruit or tables, as well as for people, such as extroverts, hippies and 'fraternity types'. It is argued that despite the fuzziness of natural categories, there is orderliness and utility to these concepts, as well. Specifically, natural categories are organized around prototypes, representative category members, which serve as reference points for the category. The identification of category members involves a prototype-matching process. Prototypes about 'kinds of people' can be very useful in decisions about people with whom to affiliate and places in which to live. This process was illustrated by reference to a case analysis of students' preferences for university housing. It was concluded that natural categories may well be fuzzy, but they are far from being dispensible.
KW - Distinctiveness
KW - Interpersonal goals
KW - Natural categories
KW - Prototypes
KW - Self-monitor
KW - Self-to-prototype matching heuristic
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U2 - 10.1016/0165-0114(84)90003-4
DO - 10.1016/0165-0114(84)90003-4
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0039973079
SN - 0165-0114
VL - 14
SP - 5
EP - 27
JO - Fuzzy Sets and Systems
JF - Fuzzy Sets and Systems
IS - 1
ER -