SCHEMA THEORY

Schemas are a subset of ideologies, beliefs and scripts that form conceptual ideas about an entity or a situation. We as individuals have learned knowledge of specific events, circumstances and people that are represented as “schemas”. They are generalised and can also aid to stereotypical views that can be biased to pre-existing beliefs and ideas. Sometimes schemas can make it hard to retain new information as it does not conform with the pre-existing information implanted in our minds. For example when we think about attending a party we already have prior knowledge of what to expect and certain social scripts to follow. We know there will be many people there who will be socialising, there will be music and food and even dancing. Before even entering the scene of the party this information has been previously imbedded in our mind through experience. In my article I am going to be touching on the different types of schemas, how they developed and how they are changing throughout society.

So, where did it all come from?

Schema theory was first developed by psychologist Frederic Bartlett who used the concept to explain memory and learning theory. Developmental psychologist, Jean Piaget then further developed the theory by introducing the term schema to describe how a schema is both the category of knowledge as well as the process of acquiring that knowledge. He also conveys it as a progressive concept, when new experiences and information is presented new schemas are developed whilst the old changes or gets modified.

So, there are different types?

When you break it down the term schema is actually quite broad as there are many different types of schemas that are present today. Schemas differ in terms of the context and can be either positive or negative.

If a child first develops a schema of a car, they can associate it specific characteristics such as wheels, a steering wheel, seats, windows etc. As they grow older their schema of a car may change as they learn about different types of cars such as sports cars, trucks, vans. This is an example of an object schema.

There are also other types of schemas such as:

Person schemas: these include a schema that you might carry around an individual like a friend. This may include information about their personality, appearance and behaviours.
Social schemas: this can include information about how people behave or how you behave in social situations.
Self schemas: this includes the knowledge that you have about your past, present and future self.
Event schemas: Like social schemas, this can include the knowledge you have about how to behave in specific events (social or not). They can be demonstrated by calling them scripts.

Scripts:

It is believed that we as individuals and society have specific scripts to follow when encountered with events and social situations. For example, when ordering a coffee you already know the script that is to follow; the waiter asks what would you like and you respond with your order, they might ask if you want something additional and you reply yes or no and say thank you. That is the usual script when ordering a coffee. Scripts can be applied to a lot if not all social interactions. Another example is asking someone on a date, again there is a certain script that follows as certain social norms that go along with that specific social encounter.

Good and bad schemas?

Schemas can influence what we pay attention to, how fast we learn, how fast we think and how we interpret new information just to name a few. Schemas are the basis of most concepts and ideas we learn today. As we develop and as society progresses so do schemas.

People often use schemas to establish groups of people according to their gender, race, beliefs and social and economical status. Under each of these groups come stereotypes and views which may have been around for so long, hence why people who uphold these certain schemas have difficulty in modifying them. For example, there are many stereotypes when it comes to gender and gender role schemas, society as a whole have views on what is more masculine and what is more feminine. This ideology separates the two and influences what we expect from the specific gender and what is considered the social norm and what is not, for example society will often view the woman as a stay at home mum and the man the one who goes out to look for work.

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