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Mo and Akeem witness a man steal a bag in a restaurant - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 6 - 2018 - Paper 1
Question 6
Mo and Akeem witness a man steal a bag in a restaurant. Using schema theory, suggest why Mo and Akeem may recall the scene in the restaurant differently.
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Mo and Akeem witness a man steal a bag in a restaurant - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 6 - 2018 - Paper 1
Step 1
Using schema theory, suggest why Mo and Akeem may recall the scene in the restaurant differently.
Answer
Schema theory posits that recall of events is influenced by an individual's previous knowledge, experiences, expectations, and stereotypes.
Mo's schema for a robbery might include information from films or media representations of theft, which could shape how he remembers the incident. For example, he may visualize dramatic elements like the thief's demeanor based on cinematic portrayals.
On the other hand, Akeem may fill in gaps in his memory based on his own prior experiences, such as having a bag stolen himself. This personal context would influence his recollection, making it more vivid or emotionally charged.
Thus, while both may have witnessed the same event, their individual schemas lead to different interpretations and memories of the robbery.