Schema

What is schema theory?

Schema theory states that people use mental frameworks (schemas) built from past experiences and knowledge to organize, interpret, and understand information.

What do schemas help us with?

Schemas help us predict what to expect in familiar situations, interpret new information based on existing knowledge, and fill gaps in memory or understanding.

What is schema congruence?

The tendency to notice and remember information that fits our existing schemas.

What is schema incongruence?

Information that does not fit our existing schemas and may be ignored, forgotten, or require more effort to process.

What is accommodation in schema theory?

Changing existing schemas or creating new ones when new information does not fit existing schemas.

What is assimilation in schema theory?

Integrating new knowledge into an existing schema.

What is disequilibrium in schema theory?

A state of cognitive imbalance that occurs when new information does not fit existing schemas, creating confusion and motivating assimilation or accommodation.

What is schema congruent information?

New information that fits easily with what you already know, making it feel familiar and easier to understand.

What is schema incongruent information?

New information that does not fit existing schemas and may seem surprising, confusing, or unexpected, often requiring accommodation.

What is a cognitive script?

A structured mental representation of how events typically unfold, helping people know what to expect in common situations

What did Bartlett (1932) show?

Bartlett showed that schemas influence how we encode and recall memories.

What did Bartlett ask participants to do?

Retell a Native American story to others and recall it after different time intervals.

Why was Bartlett's story difficult for participants?

It contained unfamiliar Native American and supernatural concepts that did not fit Western schemas.

What did Bartlett find?

People distorted the story to make it fit their own cultural schemas.

What is rationalisation?

Changing information to make it more familiar, such as changing "canoes" to "boats".

What is leveling?

Leaving out details that seem unimportant or do not fit existing schemas.

What is sharpening?

Adding details to fill gaps in memory.

How do schemas affect emotions?

Schemas influence how we interpret events and therefore how we feel about them.

How does CBT use schema theory?

CBT identifies unhelpful schemas and uses validity testing to challenge them.

How do schemas influence relationships?

Schemas shape expectations, reactions, and behaviour in relationships.

How do schemas influence consumer behaviour?

Schemas affect how people perceive brands, products, and marketing messages