SCHEMA

Mental model of aspects of the world or of the self that is structured in such a way as to facilitate the processes of cognition and perception. General, basic knowledge regarding a concept or entity which serves to guide perception, interpretation, imagination, and problem solving skills. Mindset involving self, other individuals, or the world which persists in spite of objective reality. Also known as: cognitive schema. See also: frame of reference; perceptual schema.

SCHEMA: “In 1932, British psychologist Frederic C. Bartlett (1886-1969) showed that past experiences are stored in memory as schemas.”
 Divorced Families and the Programs That Work for Them

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