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All 10 Flashcards — Schema theory
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Question
What is a schema?
Answer
A mental framework of knowledge, built from experience, that organises information and guides expectations.
Question
Which approach does schema theory belong to?
Answer
The cognitive approach — it explains behaviour through mental processes.
Question
How do schemas affect encoding?
Answer
We attend more to schema-consistent information and may ignore what doesn't fit.
Question
How do schemas cause memory errors?
Answer
Recall reconstructs the event using the schema, adding expected details and dropping inconsistent ones.
Question
Give an example of schema-driven memory error.
Answer
Recalling books in an office that were never there, because the 'office' schema expects them.
Question
One strength of schema theory?
Answer
Strong experimental support and wide application (memory, stereotypes, education).
Question
One limitation of schema theory?
Answer
Schemas can't be measured directly and the theory is vague on how they form or change.
Question
Which concept does schema theory link to?
Answer
Bias — memory is reconstructed, so expectations distort it.
Question
Is memory a replay or a reconstruction?
Answer
A reconstruction — we rebuild events using schemas, not replay a recording.
Question
Why can confident testimony still be wrong?
Answer
Schemas can add vivid, expected details that feel real but never happened.
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Full study notes for Schema theory
Topic 2.2 hub
Cognitive approach
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Psychology exam skills
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