Prototípuscentrikusság

Prototípuscentrikusság is a term that describes a cognitive bias where individuals tend to rely heavily on their mental prototypes when making judgments, categorizing information, or solving problems. A prototype is a generalized, idealized representation of a category that embodies its most typical features. When encountering a new stimulus or situation, people often compare it to their existing prototypes. If the new item strongly resembles the prototype, it is readily categorized or understood. Conversely, if it deviates significantly from the prototype, it may be misclassified, misunderstood, or require more cognitive effort to process.

This bias can influence a wide range of cognitive processes. For instance, in social cognition, people might judge individuals based on their perceived resemblance to stereotypical prototypes of certain groups, leading to overgeneralizations and prejudice. In decision-making, the availability of a strong prototype can disproportionately influence perceived likelihoods or risks. Understanding prototípuscentrikusság is crucial for recognizing how our internal mental models shape our perception of reality and can lead to systematic errors in judgment. Awareness of this bias can encourage more deliberate and analytical thinking, helping to mitigate its effects and promote more accurate assessments.