A schema is a structured plan, diagram, or mental framework that organizes information or ideas.
From Greek “skhēma” meaning “form, figure, appearance, arrangement.” It entered Latin and then English in academic and philosophical contexts.
Your brain runs on schemas—quick mental templates like “what a restaurant is” or “how a class works.” They help you think fast, but they also cause stereotypes and misunderstandings when the template doesn’t fit reality.
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