Typicality: meaning, definitions and examples

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typicality

 

[ˌtɪpɪˈkælɪti ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

in psychology

The degree to which something is representative of a particular category or class. It refers to how closely an object or event matches a mental representation of a concept.

Synonyms

conformity, prototypicality, representativeness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
typicality

Refers to the degree to which something is considered standard or usual for a category.

  • The typicality of Italian cuisine includes pasta and pizza
  • This painting captures the typicality of Renaissance art
representativeness

Used when emphasizing how well something or someone stands for a larger group or concept.

  • The survey's results lacked representativeness due to a small sample size
  • His views are not of high representativeness for the entire community
conformity

Better suited for situations involving adherence to rules, standards, or social norms, often with a neutral to negative connotation depending on context.

  • The school's dress code demands strict conformity
  • Conformity to social norms can sometimes suppress individuality
prototypicality

More appropriate when discussing something as an original model or most representative case within a category.

  • The sports car's sleek design is the prototypicality of modern engineering
  • She exhibits the prototypicality of a great leader

Examples of usage

  • The typicality of a prototype can influence how quickly people categorize new items.
  • In cognitive psychology, typicality is often used to study how people make judgments and decisions.
Context #2 | Noun

in statistics

The extent to which a data point or observation fits within the overall pattern of a dataset. It is a measure of how closely a data point aligns with the central tendency of the data.

Synonyms

alignment, congruence, fittingness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
typicality

Used to refer again to the concept of being representative or expected in a given category or situation. This repetition might imply reinforcement of the term's usage in multiple scenarios.

  • The study aimed to understand the typicality of social media habits among teenagers.
  • Her approach to problem-solving showed the typicality of an experienced engineer.
fittingness

Describes how appropriate or suitable something is for a given situation. It focuses on relevance and suitability, often in a more subjective sense.

  • The fittingness of her attire for the formal event was noted by everyone.
  • He questioned the fittingness of the joke given the seriousness of the occasion.
alignment

Often used in organizational, mechanical, or personal contexts to indicate agreement or proper arrangement according to a standard or goal.

  • The team's alignment with the company's mission made the project a success.
  • We need to check the alignment of the wheels to ensure a smooth ride.
congruence

Used in mathematical, psychological, or philosophical contexts to describe agreement, harmony, or compatibility between elements.

  • The congruence between their stories made the case convincing.
  • In geometry, congruence means that two shapes are identical in form and size.

Examples of usage

  • Outliers may have low typicality within a dataset.
  • Typicality can be assessed using measures like z-scores or standardized residuals.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word comes from the Greek word 'typos', meaning 'a blow' or 'a mark', which evolved into meaning something representative.
  • In the 19th century, 'typicality' became more mainstream in English, especially in discussions about psychology and social sciences.

Psychology

  • Typicality influences how we categorize objects or ideas, impacting our decision-making and memory.
  • Studies show that people recognize typical examples of a category faster than atypical ones, illustrating how our brains process information.

Linguistics

  • In language, typicality helps us understand how often certain words or structures are used within specific contexts, aiding fluency and comprehension.
  • Descriptive linguistics often highlights typicality through frequency patterns, showing the most common usage in language over time.

Culture

  • Cultural representations often rely on typicality to convey common values or traits through media such as film and literature.
  • In art, typicality can guide how we understand character roles or themes, influencing viewer expectations and interpretations.

Education

  • In educational contexts, understanding typicality can help teachers assess where students fall on a learning scale, identifying common strengths and weaknesses.
  • Lessons often incorporate examples of typicality to illustrate concepts, making abstract ideas more relatable.

Translations

Translations of the word "typicality" in other languages:

🇵🇹 tipicidade

🇮🇳 विशिष्टता

🇩🇪 Typizität

🇮🇩 kekhasan

🇺🇦 типовість

🇵🇱 typowość

🇯🇵 典型性(てんけいせい)

🇫🇷 typicité

🇪🇸 tipicidad

🇹🇷 tipiklik

🇰🇷 전형성 (jeonhyeongseong)

🇸🇦 النمطية

🇨🇿 typickost

🇸🇰 typickosť

🇨🇳 典型性 (diǎnxíng xìng)

🇸🇮 tipičnost

🇮🇸 dæmigerð

🇰🇿 типтілік

🇬🇪 ტიპიკურობა

🇦🇿 tipiklik

🇲🇽 tipicidad