Features of Similarity and Category-Based Induction

Evan Heit
Department of Psychology
University of Warwick


Abstract A classic feature-set model of similarity, the contrast model of Tversky (1977), is applied to a range of phenomena in category-based induction. These phenomena include basic similarity effects, typicality and asymmetry effects, diversity effects, effects of projectibility of properties, and contextual influences on similarity. These analyses help to extend the contrast model to a new area of research as well as to place constraints on the model itself.