Final answer:
A concept is the general idea of objects, events, animals, or people based on common features, traits, or characteristics, shaped by personal experiences and prototypes.
Step-by-step explanation:
A concept is the general idea of objects, events, animals, or people based on common features, traits, or characteristics. Concepts can be either natural, understood through direct observation and experience (like our concept of snow), or artificial, recognized by a set of specific characteristics that are consistently exhibited (like geometric shapes).
Our brains use the identification of prototypes for the concepts we develop. A prototype is the ideal example of a concept, heavily influenced by personal experience. For instance, if your first pet was a Golden Retriever, this breed might become your prototype for the category of dogs. Concepts are integral in every aspect of our lives, affecting how we approach our daily routines and the overarching principles that govern societal structures.
While a schema is a mental construct of related concepts, and a model is a representation of an aspect of a design, concept is the most fitting choice for describing the general idea of a group based on shared traits or characteristics.