In cognitive psychology, what is the term for a mental representation of an actual instance of a member of a category?

• A. Prototype
• B. Heuristic
• C. Exemplar
• D. Schema

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of mental representations in cognitive psychology, which are internal images or ideas that help us categorize and make sense of the world.
2. Step 2: Recognize that a 'Prototype' is a mental representation of the most typical or average member of a category, not an actual instance.
3. Step 3: Know that a 'Heuristic' is a mental shortcut or rule of thumb used to make decisions quickly, not a mental representation of category members.
4. Step 4: Understand that a 'Schema' is a broader cognitive framework or structure that organizes knowledge about a concept or category, rather than a specific instance.
5. Step 5: Identify that an 'Exemplar' is a mental representation of an actual, specific instance or example of a member of a category, which is exactly what the question describes.