What are the key differences between prototype theory and exemplar theory in the field of cognitive psychology?

Prototype theory and exemplar theory are two competing models in cognitive psychology that explain how people categorize objects and concepts.

Prototype theory suggests that people form a mental representation of the average or most typical example of a category, known as a prototype. When categorizing new items, individuals compare them to this prototype to determine category membership.

Exemplar theory, on the other hand, proposes that people store specific examples, or exemplars, of each category they encounter. When categorizing new items, individuals compare them to all the exemplars they have stored and make a decision based on similarity to these specific examples.

In summary, the key difference between prototype theory and exemplar theory lies in the way individuals categorize objects: prototype theory relies on a generalized representation of a category, while exemplar theory relies on specific examples stored in memory.