When and how do we use schemas ?
Schema’s are used nearly all the time for one simple reason. They are energy efficient.
Several factors play a role in determining if a schema will be used or not.
One is called social judgeability.
In a case where using a schema may seem socially wrong, such as by gender or skin colour, we tend to use the schemas less.
Although social stereotypes and role schemas tend to be used more than schemas about ones traits.
In conditions when the cost of making a wrong assumption is too high, we will also use schemas less.
On the other hand, when the category is something that is very noticeable or relevant to the situation or you, those schemas will have a higher chance of being used.
These two factors are called detectability and relevance.
When a schema has been used or processed recently, that schema will have a higher chance of being used. This is called availability. This also explains the use of schemas related to our mood. In a negative mood, we will use more negative schemas than in a positive one.
Individual differences also exist in the tendency to use schemas.
5 main factors have been said to create these.
Need for cognition, which is in how much detail they want to process something,
need of cognitive closure which is how quickly they want to process something,
uncertainty orientation which is how certain they want to be,
attributional complexity which is how complex they describe people and
cognitive complexity which is how complex their own cognitive processes and thoughts are.
Do schemas change ?
Schemas are created and developed through experience. This means they can get more precise and supposedly more accurate.
However, when we face information that contradicts our schemas, we tend to ignore them or interpret them in a way to keep our schemas.
If this information persists, then they may start to change.
3 different ways that schemas change have been suggested.
The 1st is called book keeping. In this method, change happens little by little. certain aspects of schemas get changed one by one.
Another is called subtyping. In subtyping, instead of changing the schema, a sub category is created in the schema to include the new type of information.
The third way is called conversion. Schemas don’t change, even when receiving contradictory evidence, for a certain time. But once it has received a large amount of that information, it will completely change.
Although it is possible that they are all used in different situations, subtyping is the one with the most scientific evidence behind it.
Part 1 : Types of schemas
Next Part : Bias, emotions and how we make impressions
Part 4 : Attributions. What and why
Part 5 : Attributions in different contexts and styles
Part 6 : Attribution biases
Accessible Science 