A schema describes a pattern of thought that is organized or behavior that categorizes information and relationships between them. All cognitive processes can be divided into two categories, that is, automatic and controlled processes. An automatic process is normally unintentional and involuntary in nature while controlled processes are intentional, effortful and can be constrained by resources available at the moment.
The two processes have several benefits. Schema allows people to relate the present occurrences to the past due to the fact that schema helps to categorize information. Schema also helps people to make sense out of some unfamiliar stimuli and also allows people to conserve some cognitive energy. Automatic processes, on the other hand, help people to navigate the social world without struggling so much to do the normal small things. The limitation of the schematic processes is that it can influence the taking up of new information leading to biasness and prejudices. An example is with the existing stereotypes. Schema can also distort a person’s perception. Automatic processes are also limited in that sometimes people can jump into drastic conclusions, which could be inaccurate and fail to realize at all.
Automatic processing is most likely used when doing involuntary and effortless processes. It occurs when individuals are not conscious about what they are doing. These processes involve the sub-conscious. Examples of these processes include sensory functions and normal walking. Controlled processing, on the other hand, is used when using some attention to process information. These processes occur at a conscious level, are intentional and normally require some mental effort. An example of an activity that requires controlled processes is driving in a new area.
Heider’s attribution theory is a concept of social psychology that addresses the process in which individuals usually explain the causes of certain behavior and events. There are two types of attribution which comprise of explanatory attribution and interpersonal attribution. Explanatory attribution is whereby people try to understand the world around them and seek explanations for certain occurrences. People are therefore able to make judgments as to what caused the occurrence of certain events. For example, a person running late for a meeting can be doing so because the person he or she got a puncture along the way. Interpersonal attribution, on the other hand, tries to explain motives of the actions of different individuals and explains what causes the occurrence of events that occur among individuals. For example, a person running late could blame the wife for waking him up when it was already too late.
Self-serving attribution is a cognitive process that is normally distorted by a person’s need to enhance and maintain his or her self-esteem. This process occurs when individuals reject any negative feedback they get and tend to focus on their strengths and their achievements. They normally overlook any failures and are responsible for any group work given to them. They are normally fast to protect their ego from any kind of threat or injury. Motivational processes and cognitive processes influence self-serving attribution. Self-serving attributions depend on a person’s locus of control, self-enhancement, self-presentation, gender, age, culture, self-esteem and the role that a person plays in doing a certain activity. People make these attributions in order to be able to survive in the real world. For example, in order for an individual to get into employment, one needs to exhibit self-serving attribution.
Works Cited
Eysenck, Michael W. Perspectives on Psychology. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis, 2013. Print.
