Media and Mind: Crash Course #4

What is a schema?

• It's a pattern of thinking that is ingrained into our brains that helps us come to conclusions faster

• It's the tendency to seek out information that supports what we already believe to be true

• It's an evil plan meant to destroy the universe

• It's a form of bias

Out brains do a lot of things automatically which is great for tasks we don't need to think about every day, like driving a car or riding a bike...but this "automation" is NOT very good for:

• Accessing how to do every day tasks like walking and catching the bus

• processing brand new information

• remembering memories from early childhood

• studying for a test

What is a "false memory"?

• When we lie about our memories on purpose

• A dream

• when someone else tells us about something that happened to us when we were a baby

• It happens when we can't recall an event 100%, but then we can hear someone else recall it and we are like, "oh yeah, I think maybe that's the way it happened."

What is the term for the brain's tendency to seek out and interpret information in a way that confirms its existing beliefs or hypotheses?

• Cognitive Dissonance

• Confirmation Bias

• Anchoring Effect

• Availability Heuristic

When we are given information that emphasizes what we already believe to be true...

• We are LESS likely to believe it - even if it isn't true

• We are MORE likely to believe it - even if it isn't true

How do pre-existing biases influence an individual's perception of new information?

• They make individuals more open to diverse perspectives.

• They lead individuals to critically evaluate all information equally.

• They cause individuals to readily believe information that aligns with their biases and dismiss information that opposes them.

• They have no significant impact on information processing.

What is the cognitive shortcut where individuals accept the first plausible answer or readily available information, especially when not highly concerned with finding the absolute correct answer?

• Cognitive Load

• Information Overload

• Information Satisficing

• Selective Attention

Why can the human brain be prone to believing false information, especially when it's presented as a story?

• Stories are inherently more factual than raw data.

• The brain is naturally inclined to seek out complex and detailed narratives.

• Stories are sense-making tools that help us understand the world, and we welcome familiar narratives even if they are false.

• False information is often more entertaining than true information.

When considering media, why is it important to be able to recognize our own thinking patterns?

• What's the question again? Sorry, I was watching a commercial

• So we're able to prove our point and get people to join our "side"

• So we are able to make informed decisions

• So we can always win debates