Schema theory shows that information matching expectations will be
more easily remembered, stored and
retrieved than information that goes
against prior expectations
having
b e t ter procedures
than
the
other.
This
demonstrates
that even though the
information can be the
same when presented to two groups with
differing opinions, the
groups interpretation of
this can be skewed in
favour of their beliefs.
Of course, it is possible for information to be
searched for and interpreted without biases, but it can still be
selectively recalled to
reinforce prior expectations.
Two
main
theories
dominate psychology
in terms of selective
recall, but they have
very different views.
Schema
theory shows that information matching expectations will be more easily remembered, stored
and retrieved than
information that goes
against prior expectations. A schema is an
organized pattern of
thought or behaviour
that categorises information and the relationships between it.
People are more likely
to notice things that fit
in with their schema.
Schemas use automatic thought to organise
new perceptions and
categorise them. On the
other hand, other theories provide evidence
38
that
surprising
information
stands out more and
is therefore more likely to be remembered.
Memory recall can also
be influenced by changes in our emotional state.
Participants memories
of their emotional reactions gradually broke
down over time when
asked about how they
felt about O.J Simpson
being acquitted for
murder (Levine et al,
2001). They assessed
the stability of emotions over time and the
relationship between
current appraisals and
memory for emotions. A
week after Simpson was
acquitted participants
were asked how they