Schemas & Stereotypes Flashcards
What is a schema?
A set of interrelated cognitions (thoughts, beliefs, etc.) that allows us to quickly make sense of a person, situation, or event on the basis of limited information.
What are the different types of schemas?
- Person schema.
- Role schema.
- Event schema.
- Self schema.
How do schemas work?
- Identification
- Assigning a schema to the target. - Application
- Processing information according to that schema.
What is schema-irrelevant?
Information tends to be ignored or quickly forgotten.
What is schema-relevant?
- Information is processed quickly and efficiently.
- It is easily recalled and used pervasively in interpretations.
What is the rebound effect?
Continuously trying to suppress schemas may actually increase accessibility.
What is Rothbart’s 3-process model (1981)?
Book-keeping model
- A slow and gradual change brought on by new evidence.
Conversion model
- Information in contrast to the schema is slowly acquired that the schema can no longer be sustained.
- A sudden change to the schema occurs.
Subtyping model
- Inconsistent information changes the structure of the schema causing the formation of subcategories.
What determines schema use?
- Vividness.
- Saliency.
- Accessibility.
How does vividness determine schema use?
- Emotionally interesting (violent crime).
- Concrete or image provoking.
- Close to you in place or time.
How does saliency determine schema use?
- Distinctive features (dress, appearance, skin colour).
- Contextually distinctive features (single man in group of woman).
What factors affect schema use?
- Rewards.
- Punishments.
- Costs of being wrong.
- Distraction and anxiety.
- Individual differences.
What are stereotypes?
- Social perceptions of an individual in terms of group membership or physical attributes.
- It is a form of social categorisation that affects the behaviour of those who hold the stereotype - This is a result of schema processing.
Why is there a need to simplify our social world?
The world is complex, but our capacity to process information is limited.
When are stereotypes acquired?
At a young age before the child has any knowledge of the group involved.
Where do stereotypes come from?
- Socialisation.
- Social norms.
- Social role theory.
- Role congruity theory.
What is the social role theory?
Stereotypes form because people observe male and female behaviour and infer that sexes possess corresponding dispositions.
What is the role congruity theory?
- Adhering to social norms regarding gender is encouraged/rewarded.
- Violation of gender stereotypes is punished societally.
