I always tell my students that the difference is: "you have stereotypes and
I have schemas", however, "schema" is actually a much larger term than
"stereotype". To quote from my Penguin Dictionary of Psychology by Arthur S.
Reber (1985), "we find references to a linguistic schema for comprehending a
sentence, a cultural schema for interpreting a myth, a prehensile schema for
a child learning how to grasp an object, a means-end schema for solving
logical problems, etc." (p. 665) So, stereotypes generally involve judgments
about social groups while schemas are useful for many purposes. In fact,
learning about anything would be impossible without them since they are the
organizational frameworks we use to understand concepts. According to Reber,
schemas are "cognitive, mental plans that are abstract and . . . serve as
guides for action, as structures for interpreting information, as organized
frameworks for solving problems, etc." p(.665) I also mention to the class
that stereotypes are usually very rigid and relatively immutable whereas
schema are open to change on the basis of experience.
Rick
-----Original Message-----
From: Nina Tarner [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2000 10:42 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: various questions
A student asked me what the difference is between schemas and stereotypes?
Last week we were discussing various disorders and the book defines
schizophrenia as a "...serious mental disorder that lasts for about six
months and includes..." A student asked why the disorder only lasts for
six months and what happens after that period of time?
Dr. Richard L. Froman
Psychology Department
John Brown University
Siloam Springs, AR 72761
e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.jbu.edu/sbs/psych/froman.htm
