Categories require an intuitive theory linking features, not just shared similarities

Evidence

Although similarity is without question an important feature on which the categorization process relies, more recent work has shown that similarity alone is not sufficient for fully understanding the categorization process. In other words, a category consists of more than a simple listing of the features that are shared by category members. The category must also provide some intuitive theory, some rationale, some explanation as to why these category members belong to the same category, that is, some causal means for understanding how and why these features are related to each other (Murphy & Medin, 1985). — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1382

Although similarity is without question an important feature on which the categorization process relies, more recent work has shown that similarity alone is not sufficient for fully understanding the categorization process. In other words, a category consists of more than a simple listing of the features that are shared by category members. The category must also provide some intuitive theory, some rationale, some explanation as to why these category members belong to the same category, that is, some causal means for understanding how and why these features are related to each other (Murphy & Medin, 1985). — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1382

Categorization

• DEEPTHINKING: The claim that a category needs an explanatory theory, not just shared features, is a subtle paradigm point about how minds actually form groups — resists easy summary.
• DEFINE: Introduces the theory-based view of categorization that refines Allport’s similarity-based account.
• corroborated: 3 independent passages support this claim — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 1382; , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1382
• XREF: connects to: Character typing requires a preexisting psychological theory, not just inductive classification. — Martin Jay, The Dialectical Imagination: A History…, 430; Transformation happens by assuming shared categories rather than questioning them. — Farhan Samanani, Conviviality and its others: for a…, 47; Pre-existing categorical models shape how both actors and analysts identify complex events — Charles Tilly, Regimes and Repertoires, 948 (+2 more)