Schemas
Definition
Schemas are mental frameworks that help us organize and interpret information. They are essentially cognitive structures that provide a blueprint for processing similar future events.
Analogy
Think of schemas like the templates you use in PowerPoint or Word. You don't start from scratch every time; instead, you use an existing structure (template) to guide your work. Similarly, schemas provide a framework for understanding new information based on our past experiences.
Related terms
Prototype: A mental image or best example of a category. It's like the "standard model" we compare other things to when categorizing them.
Assimilation: The process by which we incorporate new experiences into our existing schemas. Like adding new slides into an existing PowerPoint presentation.
Accommodation: The process of adjusting our schemas to fit new information that doesn't align with our current understanding. Like modifying the template itself when it no longer suits your needs.
"Schemas" appears in:
Study guides (3)
Practice Questions (3)
- How do schemas contribute to efficient information processing according to cognitive psychology?
- What phenomenon explains why we might forget a piece of knowledge because it does not fit within our existing schemas?
- Which process explains a child's ability to adjust schemas as new information is introduced?
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