Everyone in the family treats Aunt Mary with extra gentleness. They describe her as "fragile." "She had a difficult life when she was young," they explain. "She is fragile and will break down in tears at the drop of a hat!" What concept is the family is using to explain Aunt Mary and the way they relate to her?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The family is using perceptual schemata, specifically the role schema, to explain Aunt Mary's behavior and their treatment towards her. Perceptual schemata are mental structures that help us organize and interpret information about people based on their roles, behaviors, or appearance. In this case, the family has a schema for Aunt Mary as "fragile" due to her past, which influences how they interact with her.

Everyone in the Family Treats Aunt Mary with Extra Gentleness