What Is a Schema (Model) in Psychology? - How we use shortcuts to organize and interpret information

In psychology, a schema is a cognitive framework or concept that helps organize and interpret information. Simply put, a schema describes patterns of thinking and behavior that people use to interpret the world.

We use schemas because they allow us to take shortcuts in interpreting the vast amount of information that is available in our environment. Learn more about what a schema is, different types of schemas, their impact, challenges, and more.

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How Schemas Affect Learning

Schemas also play a role in education and the learning process. For example:

• Schemas influence what we pay attention to. People are more likely to pay attention to things that fit in with their current schemas.
• Schemas also impact how quickly people learn. People learn information more readily when it fits in with the existing schemas.
• Schemas help simplify the world. Schemas can often make it easier for people to learn about the world around them. New information could be classified and categorized by comparing new experiences to existing schemas.
• Schemas allow us to think quickly. Even under conditions when things are rapidly changing and new information is coming in quickly, people do not usually have to spend a great deal of time interpreting it. Because of the existing schemas, people can assimilate this new information quickly and automatically.
• Schemas can change how we interpret incoming information. When learning new information that does not fit with existing schemas, people sometimes distort or alter the new information to make it fit with what they already know.
• Schemas can be remarkably difficult to change. People often cling to existing schemas even in the face of contradictory information.

Challenges of Schemas

While the use of schemas to learn, in most situations, occurs automatically or with little effort, sometimes an existing schema can hinder the learning of new information.3 Prejudice is one example of a schema that prevents people from seeing the world as it is and inhibits them from taking in new information.

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