mutual exclusivity assumption

in language development, the tendency of children to suppose that an object has only one category label. If a child already knows a label for a whole object and hears a novel label applied, the assumption of mutual exclusivity will block the possibility that the novel label refers to the whole object. The child will then consider other possible referents of the novel label, such as a part of the object. Compare taxonomic assumption; whole object assumption.

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Psychology term of the day

January 27th 2025

psychopathy

1. a synonym for antisocial personality disorder.

2. formerly, any psychological disorder or mental disease. —psychopathic adj.