Definitionv1DF-251
Implicit schema
a schema that operates below conscious awareness, activates automatically without deliberate control, and influences judgment and behavior without the person knowing it happened
Why This Is a Definition
This definition clearly establishes the precise semantic boundary of 'implicit schema' by specifying its key characteristics: operating below conscious awareness, activating automatically, and influencing behavior without conscious knowledge. It distinguishes implicit schemas from explicit schemas and emphasizes the structural claim about human cognition rather than just the phenomenon of unconscious bias. The definition is grounded in Bargh's research cited in the lesson.