The prototype as a construct in abnormal psychology: I. A method for deriving prototypes.

Interviewed 10 supervisors of a program for disturbed children 7–17 yrs of age and 45 college students who served as staff members for this summer program. Prototypes were derived and reported that correspond to 3 types of problem children: aggressive-impulsive, depressed-withdrawn, and disorganized-borderline. It is hypothesized that the meaning of a concept changes in a regular way as the user gains clinical experience. Data are presented to illustrate changes of this kind for each type of child. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)