Schema Theory

Schema theory posits that our brains organize knowledge into mental structures called schemas, which help us make sense of the world. These schemas are like frameworks or templates that store information about concepts and experiences. For example, we have schemas for things like "dogs," which include characteristics such as being pets, having fur, and barking. When we encounter new information, our brains either fit it into existing schemas or update them if it doesn’t fit. This process helps us efficiently process information, understand new experiences, and retrieve relevant knowledge from memory.