Abstract and Spontaneous Concepts Formation: A Transnational Comparison Between Danes and Spaniards

摘要

This prototype approach to the study of concept tries to verify the influence of variables place of origin and gender in concept formation, whether it is an abstract concept or a spontaneous one. It is hypothesized, on the one hand, that there are no differences between Danish and Spanish participants in concept formation whether or not they are abstract concepts and, on the other hand, though both men and women resort to the same arguments when referring to the spontaneous concept, they differ in the type of argument in the case of the abstract concept. The results suggest that Spaniards and Danes differ in the formation of abstract concept; however, they are similar when it is time to construct spontaneous concept. Likewise, men and women use the same arguments when referring abstract and spontaneous concepts.