Schema theory is a cornerstone of cognitive psychology, detailing how knowledge is structured and processed in our minds. It explains how schemas, cognitive structures formed from past experiences, help us categorize and interpret new information. The theory highlights the dynamic processes of assimilation and accommodation, which allow for cognitive growth and adaptation. It also delves into the types of schemas, including self, event, object, role, gender, and person schemas, and their influence on memory, learning, and everyday behavior.
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Schemas are cognitive structures that represent aspects of the world and are formed based on past experiences and information
Assimilation
Schemas can adapt and change through a process of assimilation, where new information is incorporated into existing schemas
Accommodation
Schemas can also change through accommodation, where they are altered to fit new information
Schemas allow for efficient information processing and can guide expectations and influence behavior in familiar and novel situations
Piaget's theory suggests that children construct their understanding of the world through the interaction of their schemas with their environment
Four stages of cognitive development
Children move through four stages of cognitive development, with schemas becoming increasingly complex and abstract
The processes of assimilation and accommodation are central to cognitive development, allowing children to develop more sophisticated ways of understanding and interacting with the world
Self-schemas pertain to our self-concept and include our beliefs and feelings about ourselves
Event schemas, or scripts, provide a structure for the sequence of behaviors expected in particular contexts
Object schemas involve the characteristics and uses of objects, aiding in object recognition and interaction
Role schemas encompass the expected behaviors and attitudes associated with particular social positions or roles
Gender schemas reflect societal beliefs and expectations about gender roles and attributes
Person schemas involve our understanding of specific individuals, including their traits and behaviors
Schemas help organize and store information in long-term memory and provide a framework for understanding new information, but can also lead to distortions in memory
Schema theory can be applied to various aspects of daily life, such as understanding cultural traditions and making inferences about unfamiliar stimuli
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Schemas help people understand new data by linking it to ______ knowledge, and they can evolve through assimilation and ______.
existing
accommodation
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Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development
Children progress through 4 stages: Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, Formal Operational.
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Assimilation vs Accommodation
Assimilation integrates new info into existing schemas. Accommodation adjusts schemas for new information.
