Final answer:
Typicality effects according to exemplar theory occur because we judge the typicality of a concept based on the frequency and familiarity of instances we've encountered, which can be influenced by stereotypical and egocentric biases.
Step-by-step explanation:
Typicality Effects and Exemplar Theory
There are typicality effects according to exemplar theory because our minds use examples of objects and experiences we have encountered to form concepts. A concept is a mental representation of a category, and the exemplar theory suggests that we organize these categories based on past experiences with individual instances, known as exemplars. For example, if someone has been exposed to Golden Retrievers more frequently than other dogs, they may consider a Golden Retriever as a typical example of the category 'dog'. Thus, typicality is influenced by the frequency and familiarity of specific exemplars we have experienced within a category.
Stereotypical bias and egocentric bias can influence how we view exemplars, leading to distorted judgments about typicality. For instance, common stereotypes may lead people to associate certain names or characteristics with specific social roles or attributes, affecting how typical they perceive those examples to be. While exemplar theory helps us understand this inclination, it is important to be aware of these biases to avoid overgeneralization and incorrectly assessing the typicality of a concept.