Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2026
06:08
Exploring the Role of Deontic Reasoning and World Knowledge in Wason´s Selection Task
Published on: July 22, 2025
Defending the concept of "concepts"
Brett K Hayes1, Lauren Kearney
1School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. b.hayes@unsw.edu.au
The Behavioral and Brain Sciences
|June 30, 2010
Summary
This review examines Machery's heterogeneity hypothesis, questioning if concept representations are diverse. Evidence suggests the concept construct remains valuable in understanding human cognition.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Philosophy of Mind
- Psychology
Background:
- The heterogeneity hypothesis proposes that concepts are not unified but diverse.
- Understanding concept representation is crucial for cognitive science.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically review evidence for and against Machery's heterogeneity hypothesis.
- To evaluate the role of concept representations in human cognition.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of empirical and theoretical arguments.
- Analysis of interactions between concept representations.
- Critique of empirical dissociations as evidence for heterogeneity.
Main Results:
- Key lines of evidence and theoretical arguments are examined.
- Interactions between concept representations and contextual effects are discussed.
- Empirical dissociations are critiqued as support for heterogeneity.
Conclusions:
- There are strong reasons to maintain the concept construct in cognitive science.
- The review provides a basis for retaining a unified concept construct.
- Further research can explore the nuances of concept representation.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Natural and Artificial Concepts
In psychology, concepts can be divided into two categories: natural and artificial. Natural concepts are formed through direct or indirect experiences. For example, consider the concept of snow. If you live in a place with regular snowfall, such as Essex Junction, Vermont, you know snow through direct experiences. You’ve seen it fall, touched it, shoveled it, and played in it. You recognize its texture, appearance, and even its smell. In contrast, if you live on an island like Saint Vincent in...
01:24Concepts and Prototypes
The human nervous system handles vast amounts of information by translating sensory stimuli into neural impulses, which the brain processes, creating thoughts expressed through language or stored as memories. The brain also synthesizes information from emotions and memories, which significantly influence thoughts and behaviors. This intricate process creates a comprehensive mental picture.
The brain organizes this information using concepts, which are mental categories grouping linguistic data,...
The brain organizes this information using concepts, which are mental categories grouping linguistic data,...
01:20Understanding Self-Concept
The self-concept encompasses individuals' beliefs about themselves, structured through cognitive frameworks known as self-schemas. These schemas function as mental representations of specific traits or behaviors, influencing how self-relevant information is perceived, processed, and remembered. For example, individuals who are schematic for body weight are more likely to interpret routine experiences—such as dining out or shopping—through the lens of that trait. Conversely, those aschematic for...
01:19Self-Concept
Self-concept is the cognitive and emotional understanding individuals hold about their identity. It evolves through various developmental stages, beginning in infancy and maturing as children grow. This concept influences how individuals perceive their abilities, interact with others, and manage challenges throughout life.
Infancy and Emerging Recognition
During infancy, self-concept is virtually nonexistent. Babies do not distinguish themselves as separate entities and often mistake their...
Infancy and Emerging Recognition
During infancy, self-concept is virtually nonexistent. Babies do not distinguish themselves as separate entities and often mistake their...
01:28Basic Concept
Engineering mechanics is a branch of engineering that studies motion and the forces acting on objects. It is a fundamental subject and forms the basis of many other engineering disciplines. Length, time, mass, and force are some basic concepts in engineering mechanics.
Length, which measures the distance traveled by an object, is a fundamental concept in engineering mechanics. We use coordinates relative to a reference point to describe the distance. Length not only helps to describe the...
Length, which measures the distance traveled by an object, is a fundamental concept in engineering mechanics. We use coordinates relative to a reference point to describe the distance. Length not only helps to describe the...
01:17Cognitivism
Cognitive psychology emerged as a significant field in the mid-20th century. It focused on understanding humans' internal mental processes. This approach emphasizes how people perceive, remember, think, and solve problems—elements critical to human cognition.
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process information is...
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process information is...