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Research Article

Representation of Categories

Metaphorical Use of the Container Schema

Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1027/1618-3169/a000082

In the present study we investigated whether the mental representation of the concept categories is represented by the container image schema (Lakoff & Johnson, 1980). In two experiments participants decided whether two pictures were from the same category (animal or vehicle). Pictures were presented inside or outside a frame that should activate the container schema. We found that performance to pictures was influenced by the frame in congruence with the metaphorical mapping (same category – inside bounded region; different category – not in same bounded region). These results show that the concept categories is metaphorically represented by containers.

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