Schema Theory

• Schema theory


  Mental frameworks that help individuals organise and interpret information from their environment
• Schemas


  • Act as a mental blueprint that guides cognitive processes such as thinking, perception, and memory
  • Vital for simplifying and making sense of the complex world around us
  • Shape how individuals interact with the world
• Assimilation


  The cognitive process of making information fit in with your existing understanding of the world (making new information fit in an existing schema)
• Accommodation


  Remodelling an existing schema based on new information that doesn't fit into an existing schema
• Schemas


  Can lead to cognitive biases
• If someone has a negative schema about a particular racial or ethnic group due to prior experiences or cultural influences, they may interpret and remember information about individuals from that group in a way that confirms their existing schema, leading to stereotypes and discrimination
• Study testing effects of social schemas

  • Darley and Gross (1983)
• Darley and Gross 1983 study

  The aim of the study was to observe whether social schemas influence the interpretation of ambiguous social information. To do this, the researchers obtained two different groups of participants to watch the same video of a child (a girl) taking an academic test. One group of participants was led to believe that the girl came from a low SES background, while the other group believed that the girl had a high SES background (that is, came from a rich family). Participants were then required to rate the academic performance of the girl in the video
• Participants believed the child came from a high SES background


  Ratings were significantly higher
• Schemas


  • Play a critical role in shaping people's perception and judgement of others
• Group told the girl came from a high economic background


  Thought she would have access to a better education, thereby scoring her academic performance higher
• Group thought the girl came from a low economic background


  Scored her academic performance lower
• This serves as a reminder of the potential for bias and unfair treatment based on preconceived notions (schemas)