From a Stereotype Back to a Schema

Adding One Level of Complexity(disequilibrating)

Dr. Thomas LinkPsychology

Pierce CollegeLakewood, WA

Schemas are simply a structure for organizing information in one’s mind, similar to the way we organize silverware in the drawer by forks, knives, etc.

Stereotypes are a kind of schema.But they are dysfunctional. Two key ways they are

dysfunctional is that they overgeneralize a group of people and they ignore new information.

My Schema Before

“Stans”

TajikistanKazakstan

Uzbekistan – uzbeki, beki,

beki

Kirgi the hard one to

spellOther one

Notice the two details I know:One is about me (spelling)One is about someone else’s ignorance

The “Stans” are in my category of “Countries I didn’t have to know about before”

After a Talkat the Jackson School’s Community College Master Teacher Institute by Diana Pearce

Central Asia“the

Stans”

Language groupLanguage tells me about ethnicity and some about

history.

PersianIran is also

Persian

Tajik

Turkish(Turkic)

Uzbekshe talked about

this one moreKazak

Kyrgystill trouble spelling, more “y”s

Turkmen

And some complexity

And a couple storiesLeft: Diana had worked with the man here. He had looked for a wife but hadn’t found one, so asked his parents to arrange a marriage. They met a few times before deciding to go ahead with it – a mixed arrange / love marriage. They’re still together

The woman in the green sweater is from Afghanistan

The New Schema gives me…A key difference that I have other info tied to.A first response that’s not based on me or jokes.Some stories and stats that will help form new

questions