Stereotypes A stereotype represents an oversimplified viewpoint. Objects in our design can either be involved, active participants in many situations, or by design play a more docile role, responding only when asked, taking a supporting role. In between these two extremes are many shades of behavior. I find it useful to classify objects according to their primary purpose as well as their modus operandi. A stereotype lacks originality or creative force.
Behavioral stereotypes are a useful starting point for thinking about objects.
We have reasons, albeit ill-formed at first, for creating each object. We try to pick a good name, and form behavior around our ideas of how the object should perform. If we explicitly put some names to these behavioral conjectures, we can share our ideas with fellow modelers. Certain stereotypes lend themselves to considering certain behaviors over others. During exploratory modeling we test and refine our notions and consciously tune our emerging model.