What are schemas according to Piaget?

Schemas, according to Piaget, are fundamental beliefs about the world, the self, and others. They play a crucial role in cognitive development as they serve as mental structures that help individuals organize and interpret information. Schemas evolve through a process of assimilation and accommodation as people encounter new experiences or information.

For example, a child might have a schema for a dog that includes the characteristics of being a four-legged animal with fur. When the child sees a different breed of dog, they can assimilate this new information into their existing schema without changing it. If they encounter a different type of animal, such as a cat, they might adjust or accommodate their understanding of what constitutes a pet animal, thus refining their schemas.

The other options do not accurately represent Piaget's concept of schemas. Memories of past experiences refer to a different cognitive function, while learning strategies pertain to the educational approaches used in various settings. Cognitive distortions, recognized in therapy, relate more to faulty patterns of thinking rather than the foundational cognitive structures that schemas represent.