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Schema
a cognitive structure that provides a framework for how we process and organize information
- schemas are mental representation based on previous knowledge, expectations, and beliefs of certain aspects of the world
- are formed from past experiences and help create shortcuts to interpret new information
- each person's schema is influenced by the society and culture they live in
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Schema Theory
based on the idea that we store new knowledge into existing schema in order to better understand what we're trying to process
- when an individual is confronted with information that fits their existing schema, they will interpret it based on that cognitive framework.
- Three main types of schema: scripts, self-schema, and social schema
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Scripts
mental representations about sequences of events
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Self-Schemas
mental representations about ourselves
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Social Schemas
mental representations about groups of people; creates the foundation for stereotypes
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Study Used
Loftus and Palmer (1974): influence on schemas