The world around is structural. The knowledge of ontology, the experience of cognition and interaction with its components says that the reality around us is not chaotic, but streamlined. All its parts represent a set of stable ties and ensure the overall integrity of the picture of the world.
Definition
Thought processes reflecting the discreteness of the world are various categories.
Categorization is a process of cognition that relates a studied object or phenomenon to a certain category through generalization and identification of common properties.
Process
Carrying out the categorization of reality, the human consciousness compares its sensations and the objective variety of forms of matter, and its movement into certain groups. Cognition of the surrounding world and the process of understanding it is carried out through the establishment of relations based on common features when comparing new experience with the past. The new experience is systematized by consciousness and correlated with worldview formations formed before. The result of the work of deep cognitive and mental processes is the formation of a categorization system.
History of development and basic theories
The categorization of data has occupied the minds of scientists for centuries. The beginning was laid in Ancient Greece by Aristotle and Plato. They made a significant contribution to the formation and development of the modern concept of the categorization process. Among the many approaches and methods, there are only two theories that have retained their relevance today: classical and prototypical.
Classical theory has been used since ancient times. Plato believed that objects should be classified according to general properties, and Aristotle, in turn, supplemented his idea. He presented the category as an abstract container, where all the elements belonging to this group are collected. It has a clear contour, and all its components have the same properties and the same position for all.
Prototypical theory developed in the twentieth century thanks to the psychologist E. Roche. He criticized the notion of equality of category elements. Instead, he proposed introducing the definitions of “center”, “category periphery” and “prototype”. Under the prototype was meant the best element, which was in a central position. And the least characteristic components were placed on the periphery.
Categorization and classification
Many people think that this is one concept only under different names. At first glance, these ways of organizing information are really similar. But they have differences that reflect different processes.
A class is a collection of objects and phenomena grouped according to certain signs and rules. Class boundaries are clear and precisely marked. Therefore, an object can relate to it only if it possesses the necessary properties and attributes.
Classification is the assignment of an object to a class according to the totality of features. A good example illustrating this process is the classification of living organisms in biology or the system of elements in chemistry.
Unlike a class, a category defines only general properties, attributes, and the relationship between them. Its borders are vague and inaccurate. Understanding a category is possible only in comparison with others.
Categorization is the definition of objects by category based on common attributes.
Ways to organize
At the moment, there are three methods for categorizing images, objects and phenomena:
- Analytical and descriptive. Includes groups based on the similarity of certain features or details. For example, leopard and leggings - the presence of spots.
- Thematic. Combinations of elements formed on a functional relation and in certain situations. For example, blackboard and school desks - school.
- Categorically final. Groups of components created by generalizing reasoning using selected objects as an example of a certain category. For example, housing, clothes.
Cognitive categorization
The basis of the human thought process, the reflection of objective reality by the senses, movements, actions and speech, is categorization. It plays a huge role in cognitive science. When a person observes something as a version of another, thinks or thinks about something, he interacts with the categories and structures them.
Social distribution
A person can structure not only objects, images and phenomena, but also images of other people. For this, in our minds there is a special categorical grid, in each cell of which there are certain categories: cute, angry, kind, lazy, selfish, beautiful, cool.
When meeting a new person, our brain “scans” a stranger and writes it in certain categories. For example, a stranger helped bring packages from the store. This means that in our consciousness he will be fixed as a kind, sympathetic, sensitive person. Although it may not be.
We are very worried when it is not possible to immediately record a person in any cells. Usually in these cases they say: "I can’t understand what kind of person he is," "I just can’t figure it out."
On the other hand, when a person is in any category, but his behavior does not correspond to it, it is very difficult to admit it and transfer it to another cell. For example, a person is perceived as caring, but his behavior expresses a disregard for attitude. You cannot admit to yourself that he is selfish. Instead, excuses and defenses will come into play: "in fact, it’s good, it’s just such a period, and in general, two years ago, he helped me solve a serious problem."
Social categorization - the assignment of a person to specific types, classes and categories. For example, a child is an adult, a man is a woman, and a smart one is stupid.
Categories of feelings
It is possible to systematize not only objects, data, phenomena and images. The categorization of emotions is a group of behaviors and conditions of a person:
- Patience is a strong experience of negative emotions. These include: resentment, anger, hatred, disgust, pain, suffering, irritation, rage, horror, fear.
- State - the spatial location of a person inside emotions. For example, to be in high spirits. This category also extends to physical well-being (state of fatigue). It includes: apathy, fun, serenity, inspiration, love, depression, indifference, arousal, carelessness, admiration, tenderness, sadness, dejection, joy, jealousy, embarrassment, anxiety.
- Ability - emotions available to everyone to study, but not everyone can perceive them in full. They have a subjective feature inherent in a particular person. For example, "only she is able to love so." This category includes: love, sadness, hatred, enthusiasm, fear, fun, indignation, resentment, grief, anxiety, despair.
- Experience is a state of mind caused by any strong feelings and emotions. For example, "survived grief", "survived parting." This category includes emotions such as delight, annoyance, love, fear, longing, grief, anxiety, shock, admiration, excitement, humiliation, confusion. They are notable for their short duration and often accompany an important stage in life that has been successfully completed.
- The test is a difficult experience, life difficulties and hardships. For example, "experience pain." This category includes: anxiety, bliss, indifference, excitement, pride, grief, anger, pleasure, hope, love, resentment, grief, jealousy, sympathy, grief, despondency, triumph, torment, tenderness.
- Feeling - physical, mental, emotional and moral. For example, a feeling of hunger, a sense of humor. It has six subcategories: a sense of state, consciousness, attitude, sensation, ethics and testing.
Many emotions are found in several categories at the same time. This is due to the complex physiological and psychological structure of a person who is able to simultaneously experience several emotions. Categorization is the structuring of feelings according to the ways of manifestation.
Culture and personality
Each person perceives the surrounding world individually. This process in the form of ideas and behavior models was laid down from childhood, forming a mental program. The sources of such programs are culture and society, in which the socialization of man proceeds. The categorization of cultures is expressed in methods of influencing an individual by society:
- The distance of power is what role in different cultures is given to power relations between people. In cultures with a high distance, bearers of authority (boss, parent, older generation) receive reverence and obedience. In societies with a low distance of power, great importance is attached to equality between people and personal independence.
- Individualism and collectivism. In collectivist cultures, group and family goals and interests are placed above individual ones. The group dominates the individual, and a person’s place in society is determined by his place in the social hierarchy. An individualistic culture puts the interests of an individual above the goals of a group. A person must take care of himself and his family. In such a society, a person belongs to several groups at once, for this reason loyalty to them is small, and rivalry and competition are preferred to cooperation.
- Masculinity and femininity - the degree of expression of gender roles in society. In masculine cultures, the emphasis is on power, independence, competition, material success, a clear separation of male and female roles. In children, ambitiousness, the spirit of competition and the skill of self-presentation are encouraged. And in work the most valuable thing is the result. In feminine cultures, the main role is given to emotional ties between people, concern for others, and the development of social policy. In such societies, a demonstration of gender differences is not accepted. The children develop a sense of unity and meekness. For work awarded on the principle of equality.
- Avoiding uncertainty is the level of possible deviations from generally accepted standards and values. In cultures with a high level of uncertainty, unknown situations provoke stress, fear, and a high level of aggression. Changes are perceived as a threat to the usual way of life, fear for the future. Laws, rules and regulations are needed for all occasions in order to feel safe. Clear goals, detailed assignments, and hard deadlines are preferred. Crops with a low level of avoidance are risk averse and not afraid of uncertain situations, therefore they are more stress tolerant and less prone to fear of change. They prefer unusual situations that provide new opportunities. Unpredictability is seen as a potential for further development. Initiative and willingness to take risks are appreciated.
Categorization is the ability of our consciousness to organize the world, systematize the observed, find similarities and differences of some objects from others. This is one of the tools for understanding the world, thanks to which the development of man and society.