Conceptual combination: Models, theories and controversies

This chapter provides a comprehensive and critical review of the major theories and models of conceptual combination, by highlighting agreements and controversies in the literature, and identifying future directions for research. The review summarizes the basic arguments of ten major models and then presents an analytical framework to compare and contrast these models along four dimensions: (1) the causal role of schemata in the model, (2) the role of cognitive harmony or consistency in the model, (3) the pragmatic orientation in the model, and (4) the explanatory scope of the model. The review identifies areas of agreement and disagreement among the various models and theories and calls for a synthesis theory to address various theoretical weaknesses and empirical gaps in the current explanations.