Exemplar Approach - Essay Example

?Exemplar Approach Introduction Exemplar approach is more popular due to its efficiency in improving one’s psychological thinking and communication. The implementation of exemplar approach purely depends is considered to be effective as it depends on the type of person who is treated. The results of exemplar approach may not be the same in all the cases, since the implementation procedure might differ from one person to another. The results of the approach depend on the categorization which is done based on the concept categorization. When compared to the other approaches, exemplar approach can be applied to any sort of psychological illusions and problems. The category is classified based on the psychological approaches and this is done to ensure that they are classified in a proper manner. Concepts and categories form the major part of the exemplar approach. The cognitive and psychological functions require concepts and categories. This is one of the striking differences between exemplar approach and other psychological approaches. These are essential to determine the psychological functions and activities of a person. Concepts are considered as the representations and activities based on the mental representations. The use of these concepts is more in exemplar approach due to the varied psychological aspects used in it. Concepts indicate the ideas and ideologies pertaining to a particular idea. These representations include understanding; thinking and even the memory power are included in the classification of concept. Since these are the direct interpretation from one’s mind, they are given more importance. Concepts are classified into three major types namely classification, prototype and exemplar approach. Categorization is one of the primary functions of the concepts, as it deals with the representations of a person’s mind. The knowledge is generally categorized and this is carried out based on the level of concepts. The psychological aspect like thinking, which differs in every situation, depends on the way how the particular knowledge is categorized. Categorization in context with exemplar approach; is defined as the process in which each and every thing is classified into various subdivisions called categories. Each category in turn contains several other concepts which ease the process of categorization. (Shan, 2005). These categories are classified and described using several approaches like prototype approach, definitional approach and exemplar approach. In terms of exemplar approach, category is described as the principle that helps to point out the knowledge that has been classified using the concepts. (Braisby, 2005). Category is a collection of properties or items that are similar in nature or by their property. The similar objects possess things that have common properties. The words and properties that are used to define an object are also considered as concepts since they directly deal with the ideas of the people. Exemplar- A Unique Approach Exemplar approach stands out due to its unique approach and easy methodology that is used in dealing with psychological problems. There are certain differences that make exemplar the most sought after method. The major problems with classical approach and prototype approach are eradicated in this approach. Classical approach generally has problem with defining attributes for a particular category, where as exemplar approach easily generates the required attributes. Classical approach uses fuzzy concept, but exemplar approach uses well defined objects to determine the mental representations. Prototype approach also lacks in certain aspects but exemplar approach scores over them in almost all the aspects. Prototype approach implements abstract concept and this act as a disadvantage while deriving categories. In case of exemplar approach, concrete concept is used since it deals with physical presence. A definite and predefined structure is not followed either in prototype or classical approach. Exemplar approach makes use of predefined steps that enable the instantiation of respective categories. Unlike classical approach and prototype approach which works on description, exemplar approach works on a principle where existing objects of a particular category are taken into consideration. The objects may also be things that the person has gone through in his past. The similarities among the objects are also taken into consideration when determining the exemplar approach. The brain not only memorizes the similar incidents, but also has the ability to memorize the common functionalities between them. Exemplar approach aims at exhibiting this aspect of the human brain. This shows the striking difference between exemplar approach and other approaches. This in turn helps in defining a particular category. When considering an approach like exemplar which gives more importance to categories, the possibility of grouping is more when compared to other approaches. The main advantage of categorization is the faster recognition of similar objects. (Braisby, 2005). Categorization allows people to have a general idea about a particular incident by recognizing it at the first instance. Exemplar approach generally possesses fewer problems in categories with different objects. This is also applicable to the objects that are different within a particular category. When compared to the other approaches, exemplar is preferred since it works well for all categories irrespective of whether it is small or big. The response to categorization is done based on the class in which they are grouped. Unlike other approaches which rely on the uniqueness among the objects, exemplar approach relies on the classification. All the categorizations are not same, since people categorize differently in different circumstances. (Goldstein, 2008). The situation plays a major role as people tend to remember and associate things depending on the situation in which they classify things. Exemplar approach defines that people recognize a category by matching it with their memory. (Gellatly, 1986). They can realize and recognize only if the object matches with the classified objects in their memory. Abstract Vs Concrete The probability of controversies and doubts are more in these approaches. Often people have a doubt whether all the concepts are same. Concepts like abstract and concrete are entirely different. Abstract concept refers to items that are physically absent; people cannot sense them in a physical manner. Concrete refers to things that are physically present; this creates a striking difference between the abstract and concrete concepts. (Eysenck & Keane, 2005). The ideas about a particular object are also taken into consideration while analyzing the abstract and concrete concepts. Well Defined Vs Fuzzy Concepts Physical presence is felt more when compared to the abstract concept. This logic applies to well defined and fuzzy concepts too. The classical approach assumes well defined categories and this leads to problems since people go by fuzzy concepts. This clearly proves that people associate objects in a fuzzy manner rather than relating them in a well defined manner. Communication Communication is the means by which people make reference to describe the ideologies and concepts. Communication is the main tool in describing the concepts or categories. People rely on communicational methods and tools to interpret their opinions and ideas about a particular concept. A concept or a category is based on the language in which it is described to other person. Thus concept and category cannot exist without communication. Communication is made possible by means of concepts which help in the process of explaining and describing things to people. (Gellatly, 1986). This is achieved by using a language to convey the intended concept. Not only concept, but categorization also depends on communication. Concept categorization can be achieved only by means of communication and this in turn is implemented by using a language. Exemplar approach is widely used in analyzing the way in which people think and act. Each and every action of a person is related to his behavior which is an action generated by the mind. The mental representations are a result of cognitive behavior and thinking. (Richards, 2009). For concept categorization, exemplar approach is the best one since the other approaches mainly deal with abstract and fuzzy concepts. Analysis and researches by Shan specify that exemplar approach can be applied to almost all types of situation, as it describes the human activities in a well defined manner. Whorfian Hypothesis Exemplar approach is similar to many of the findings and conclusion that resulted as an extension of research in concepts and categories. Exemplar approach emphasizes the fact that communication is the bridge between concept and category interpretation. Due to this factor, many authors and researchers concentrated on the reason as to why communication is treated as the major tool. This led to various other researches that aimed at ascertaining the facts emphasized by the exemplar approach. Though several researchers tried their hand in this process, Whorf was the one who interpreted a concept similar to that of exemplars. (Richards, 2009). The common idea is that, cognitive processes are common in their logical structure and this depends on communication. According to Whorf, the pattern decides the way in which each individual ascertains the objects. The pattern varies from one person to another and this creates the difference between the ways in which people perceive these things. The major similarity between the exemplar approach and Whorfian hypothesis is the importance of communication in both the approaches. Exemplar approach insisted that communication is essential to describe or explain a concept or a category. Whorfian hypothesis was also based on this concept. Exemplar approach used language as a medium to describe concepts, where as Whorf defined language as the object that shaped up the ideas of a person. This defined the way in which language was perceived throughout the world. Though people are used to various languages, it is considered as an important aspect in interpreting what people feel and think. He emphasized on the concept of linguistic determinism which described that a person’s thinking is entirely determined by the language in which he interacts. As the languages are different, the way in which they are interpreted is also different. Each aspect of exemplar approach is related to Whorfian hypothesis in one or more ways. The language dons various roles depending on the country and the way in which people speak. (Galotti, 2010). This difference is felt during the process of translation as there is a difference in the way the words are translated in each language. Even a minor change can easily lead to a change in the way the object is perceived. There exist a strong bond between exemplar approach and Whorf theory. The processing of language was also common between these two representations. Semantic information was used to process the languages and this semantic information was represented in the form of categories and their concepts. (Galotti, 2010). The method of processing was selected based on the concepts that were explained. In certain cases, semantic information was processed in a proper manner. Since certain words and phrases were negotiated in each language, the semantic information process was incomplete. As semantic information was linked with the words, the possibility of negotiation was comparatively more. (Groome, et.al., 2006). The semantic information conveyed in a particular language is not processed at all instances. Instead it depends on the type of information and the language in which it is interpreted. Understanding was the base for the interpretation of concepts. Irrespective of the language, the way in which people understood the concept was considered as the main factor. Language is generally connected to the cognitive processes which in turn depend on the objects. Exemplar approach and cognitive psychology and neuropsychology are interrelated since they share a common concept. Cognitive psychology research analyzes the problem in an individual who is affected by psychological problems. “One of the most areas of cognitive science research is the study of language. Linguists study how people use grammar and how people produce and understand language” (Goldstein, 2008). The activities of a person are determined by the brain and any neurological disorder may lead to improper behavior. The language might also get affected or changed. Exemplar approach and cognitive psychology share a common concept where the language and its system are known to be similar between individuals. (Harley, 2001). Though this is not true in every individual, there is a possibility of language systems being similar. Approach to Speech Therapy Exemplar approach shares a strong connection between the language and the cognitive psychology. Speech therapy is interrelated with the exemplar approach as the interpretation of language depends on how it is described. The language in the mind is more important than how people interpret it. Psychological disorders also form a major part of the speech therapy. If a person is psychologically affected, a speech therapy is essential, whereas a person with speech difficulty is dealt with in a different way. If a person is in need of speech therapy, he must be examined before including him in a speech therapy module. Scientific researches and studies have proved that people who underwent speech therapy have improved when compared to their previous stages. (Muma, 1998). This proves that people who undergo speech therapy have a chance of improving their pronunciation. The effectiveness of the treatment decides the level of improvement. Mere observation and monitoring will not improve their skills; instead it will decrease their level of confidence. The effectiveness of speech therapy also depends on the language in which it is provided. Speech therapy is used for other problems like mental disorders, motor neuron disease, dyspraxia and aphasia. People affected by these problems are provided with speech therapy treatments. This is incorporated to bring them back to the normal form. Speech therapy includes various treatments that help in treating the difficulties in accessing the language in our brain. The use of language is often decided by the activities of the brain and any minor problem in the brain will lead to language problems. A person affected by stroke suffers many problems out of which speech difficulty is considered as the major problem. Speech therapy is defined specifically for people who suffer from mental problems. Depending on the problems and diseases, the type of treatment is decided. Post stroke treatment is provided for people who are affected by stroke. They are provided with speech therapies which enable them to speak the words more clearly. Since pronunciation problems are more common, the therapy concentrates on improving their way of pronunciation. Motor neuron disease also leads to speech problems, as it directly affects the motor cortex of the brain which helps in pronunciation. These people must be included in the auditory system which aims at improving the way they pronounce a particular word. This treatment improves the way they speak and the result is very obvious. Aphasia generally affects the major functions of a human body. This in turn disrupts almost all the functions and affects the language zone of the human brain. PALPA and CAT are used to assess and diagnose the language disorders. These assessment methods are used when the person is affected by aphasia. As this disease affects a part of the brain, these people suffer from problems related to speech comprehension. They find it difficult to speak fluently and grammatical mistakes are considerably more. Since the connection in the brain gets affected, the difficulty of repeating the words is prominent. In this case, the psycholinguistic approach is implemented. A complete analysis of the patient’s disease is carried out and the speech therapy is provided based on the problem. The way in which the language system is disrupted is also analyzed. This makes the process easier. Psycholinguistic Approach Psycholinguistic approach tests the various functioning systems to identify the part where the problem lies. Using the semantic system, the patient’s type of speech can be improved. This will help them to speak more meaningful words. Psycholinguistic approach is preferred when compared to other concepts. The reason, psycholinguistic assessments can be made on the person to diagnose the speech problems. If a person is affected by stroke, psycholinguistic can used to determine his difficulty. People affected by aphasia cannot understand and repeat words at a faster pace. In this case, they must be provided with speech treatment which improves their capability to understand. Exemplar approach states that people with cognitive psychological problems and neuropsychological problems have to undergo these treatments in order to improve their communication. But they must undergo an initial treatment to cure their psychological problems so that their improvement will be at a faster pace. (Muma, 1998). This creates a connection between the mental processes and the recognition processes. Apart from speech therapies, word recognition process can also be implemented to make people understand the words in a much easier way. Due to this factor, people will have an opportunity to understand the words and reproduce them much effectively. This in turn will result in the easy interpretation of objects and people will be able to interact and converse in the way they want. (Muma, 1998). Phonological approaches are also becoming popular as it directly deals with the person’s phonological system. Phonology is nothing but the perception and pronunciation of a particular word. This includes the unique sound that is related to each and every word. Since each of these factors contribute to the communication, the efficiency of the treatments and therapies are considered to be important. The only disadvantage in speech therapy is that, people forget to teach them the difference between the way a correct word and a wrong word is pronounced. (Harley, 2001). Conclusion Exemplar approach is the most sought after approach in organizing a particular concept and categorizing the intended objects and items. According to the various scholars Whorfian hypothesis is effective in analyzing whether the person with whom we are communicating has similar concepts as we do. Though exemplar approach helps to a certain extent, Whorfian hypothesis is much effective in dealing with these problems. The culture of the people also contributes to the changes in the language. People often tend to manage to communicate with other cultures and languages as the underlying concepts are same. Exemplar approach has resolved the problems of communicating as people are provided with speech therapies whenever they have a difficulty. Reference Eysenck, M. & Keane, M., 2005. Cognitive Psychology: A Student’s Handbook. 5th ed. Hove: Psychology Press. Groome, D. et. al. 2006. The Psychology of Language: From Data to Theory. 2nd ed. U.S.A: Psychology Press. Harley, T., 2001. The Psychology of Language: From Data to Theory. 2nd ed. Hove: Psychology Press. Braisby, N., 2005. Cognitive Psychology: A Methods Companion. U.K: Oxford University Press. Gellatly, A., 1986. The Skillful Mind: An Introduction to Cognitive Psychology. U.S.A: Open University Press. Shan, Y., 2005. Learning Exemplar-Based Categorization for the Detection of Multi-View Multi-Pose Objects. [Online], Available at: http://www.shanfamily.com/PDFs/809_shan_y.pdf [Accessed 25 January 2011]. U.S.A: Academic Press Inc. Goldstein, B., 2008. Cognitive Psychology: Connecting Mind, Research and Everyday Experience. U.S.A: Thomson WadsWorth, pp.293-296. Richards, G., 2009. Psychology: The Key Concepts. U.S.A: Routledge, pp.254-256. Galotti, K., 2010 cognitive Psychology: In and Out of the Laboratory. U.S.A: Nelson Education, pp.321-323. Muma, J.,1998. Effective Speech-Language Pathology: A Cognitive Socialization Approach. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Inc, pp.95-98. Read More