Schemas

Question 1

Schemas

Answer 1

• mental representations of knowledge
• they are presumed cognitive structures which serve to organize knowledge, events, self, and others
• they become mediators between input and output
• since they affect the way incoming information is 1) perceived 2) interpreted 3) stored 4) used in retrieval
• it is perceived through the lens of existing schemas

Question 2

Characteristics and functions (4)

Answer 2

1. They organize information that is stored in our memory
2. They are activated automatically
3. They save time and energy
4. They help people predict future according to the past

Question 3

Types of schemas

Answer 3

Scripts: schemas about events (eg. how to boil and egg)

Self-schemas: schemas about ourselves (eg. what are our strengths and weaknesses)

Social: schemas about others

Question 4

Schema theory

Answer 4

1) we process information
The way
2) our behavior

Are determined to a large extent by the knowledge in the form of schemas