The definition of schema is a representation; a scheme; a diagram or a plan. These are the meanings of the word, so as far as this goes, nobody put forward this concept: It is what it is.
However, many disciplines have taken the word on board and use it to apply to something within that. Psychology and cognitive sciences are examples of this.
In these disciplines a schema can mean any one of the following: A structured cluster of ideas that are pre-conceived; a pattern of behavior or thoughts that are organized; a mental structure that is representative of some aspect of the world; a mental framework that is centered on a particular theme, which helps to organize social information; a particular knowledge structure or cognitive representation of self; or structures that organize our assumptions and knowledge about something and which can be used for processing and interpreting information.
A self schema is one that someone has for themselves; if a schema is intended for other people it is called person schemata and if it is for a situation or for an event they are called event, or script schemata.
The concept of schemata as it applies to psychology was brought into being by the British psychologist, Frederic Bartlett, 1886 - 1969, and was expanded upon in 1926 by Jean Piaget, and by R. C. Anderson, the educational psychologist.
Basically, people use schemata so that they can understand the world; they take situations and use their previous knowledge and understanding to interpret the current situation. If things do not match there is a tendency to believe that there is something wrong with the situation rather than to accept that our thinking and understanding is skewed.
However, many disciplines have taken the word on board and use it to apply to something within that. Psychology and cognitive sciences are examples of this.
- Definition of a schema in psychology and cognitive science
In these disciplines a schema can mean any one of the following: A structured cluster of ideas that are pre-conceived; a pattern of behavior or thoughts that are organized; a mental structure that is representative of some aspect of the world; a mental framework that is centered on a particular theme, which helps to organize social information; a particular knowledge structure or cognitive representation of self; or structures that organize our assumptions and knowledge about something and which can be used for processing and interpreting information.
- Different schemata
A self schema is one that someone has for themselves; if a schema is intended for other people it is called person schemata and if it is for a situation or for an event they are called event, or script schemata.
- The person responsible for this notion
The concept of schemata as it applies to psychology was brought into being by the British psychologist, Frederic Bartlett, 1886 - 1969, and was expanded upon in 1926 by Jean Piaget, and by R. C. Anderson, the educational psychologist.
Basically, people use schemata so that they can understand the world; they take situations and use their previous knowledge and understanding to interpret the current situation. If things do not match there is a tendency to believe that there is something wrong with the situation rather than to accept that our thinking and understanding is skewed.