prototype category

A prototype category is a way of organizing items based on the most typical example within that group. For instance, when thinking of a "bird," a robin might be considered a prototype because it has common features like feathers, wings, and singing. Other birds, like ostriches or penguins, may fit into the category but are less typical. This method helps us quickly recognize and classify objects by comparing them to the most representative example, which serves as our mental "average" of that category.