Final answer:
The method by which we categorize objects and events based on shared characteristics is known as a concept. Concepts, along with prototypes and schemata, allow us to efficiently process and organize information, making cognition more manageable.
Step-by-step explanation:
The way we group objects and events based on some shared characteristics is called a concept. A concept is an idea that groups together objects, events, or qualities that are similar in some way. For instance, the concept of a 'dog' includes all the different breeds and individual dogs because they share common characteristics that define them within that concept.
Concepts allow us to categorize and make sense of the world around us without needing to remember every individual instance. We also have prototypes, which are the best examples or representatives of a concept. Our brain develops schemata as well, which are clusters of related concepts that help us efficiently process and organize information.