Abstract
Eight abstract concepts were submitted to a procedure designed to test the logical nature of their definition. The hypothesis that they would show a polymorphous prototype structure similar to that found for concrete categories (Hampton, 1979; Rosch & Mervis, 1975) was confirmed for five of the concepts. Reasons for the lack of fit of the prototype model to the remaining concepts and implications for the generality of existing theories of semantic memory are discussed.
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This research was supported by a postgraduate studentship awarded to the author at University College London by the Medical Research Council of Great Britain.
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Hampton, J.A. An investigation of the nature of abstract concepts. Mem Cogn 9, 149–156 (1981). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03202329
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03202329