Which of the following best describes what the prototype model of concepts emphasizes in cognitive psychology?

• A. It emphasizes that concepts are learned through classical conditioning and repeated associations.
• B. It emphasizes that concepts are stored as exact copies of every instance encountered.
• C. It emphasizes that concepts are organized around the most typical or representative example of a category.
• D. It emphasizes that concepts are defined strictly by a set of necessary and sufficient features.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the prototype model in cognitive psychology is a theory about how we mentally represent categories or concepts.
2. Recognize that the prototype model suggests concepts are organized around a 'prototype,' which is the most typical or representative example of a category, rather than all instances or strict definitions.
3. Compare this with other models: classical conditioning focuses on learned associations, exemplar models store all instances, and definitional models rely on necessary and sufficient features.
4. Identify that the prototype model emphasizes a mental average or best example that captures the central tendency of a category.
5. Conclude that the prototype model highlights how people categorize new objects by comparing them to this central prototype rather than exact copies or strict rules.