Scaffolding, Framing, Schemas, & Delusions
3D model of a brain
The human mind is a powerful thing, but it can be easily influenced by external factors such as framing, schemas, and delusions when your scaffolding is insufficient. These concepts can all work together to control people and sway public opinion and policy. We’re going to explore how these topics tie together, why they are so powerful, and how one can safeguard themselves against common pitfalls. We'll also discuss the importance of scaffolding in learning and development, how authoritarian parenting leads to poor scaffolding, and how poor scaffolding can leave people susceptible to the manipulation of framing, schemas, and delusions. So, let's dive in!
What is scaffolding?
scaffolding on a building
Scaffolding in psychology refers to the process by which individuals build new knowledge and skills by building on existing knowledge and skills. This process involves providing support and guidance to help individuals gradually move towards mastery of a new concept or skill. When it comes to learning, scaffolding is essential to ensure that individuals are able to fully understand and internalize new concepts. Without proper scaffolding, individuals may struggle to learn and retain new information, leading to gaps in knowledge and understanding.
Poor scaffolding in learning can lead to a number of negative outcomes, including a lack of confidence in one's abilities, feelings of frustration or helplessness, and an overall lack of engagement with the learning process. When individuals are unable to build on existing knowledge, they may be more susceptible to falling for cognitive biases and other mental traps.
Additionally, research has shown that authoritarian parenting styles can also leave individuals susceptible to falling for various cognitive biases and mental traps. This is because authoritarian parenting often involves a strict, rules-based approach to parenting, which can limit a child's ability to explore and learn from their experiences. This can lead to a lack of critical thinking skills, which can make individuals more likely to fall for manipulative tactics or other mental traps.
Scaffolding is a crucial component of learning and development. Proper scaffolding helps individuals build on existing knowledge and develop new skills, while poor scaffolding can lead to gaps in knowledge and an increased susceptibility to cognitive biases and mental traps. Understanding the importance of scaffolding in learning can help individuals better navigate the learning process and develop a stronger foundation of knowledge and skills.
What are framing, schemas, and delusions?
a hand holding an empty frame to the sky to highlight a bird
Framing - Framing refers to the way information is presented or "framed" in order to influence how people perceive and respond to it. In psychology, framing can influence a person's decision-making by highlighting certain aspects of a situation or issue and downplaying others. For example, if a news story about a crime emphasizes the violent nature of the crime, it may lead people to believe that the neighborhood is unsafe and that they need to take more precautions. On the other hand, if the news story emphasizes the low crime rate in the area, people may feel safer and less anxious. In public messaging, framing can be used to shape people's attitudes and beliefs about various issues. Political campaigns, for example, often use framing to sway voters by presenting information in a way that highlights certain values or positions. For instance, a political candidate may frame their campaign as one focused on "putting America first" in order to appeal to voters who prioritize nationalism and patriotism. Framing can also be used to promote social and environmental causes. For instance, an environmental advocacy group may frame their campaign around the idea of "protecting the planet for future generations" to appeal to people's sense of responsibility and duty towards future generations. In both psychology and public messaging, framing is a powerful tool that can be used to shape people's attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. Understanding how framing works and how it can be used effectively can help individuals and organizations communicate more effectively and achieve their goals.
bulletin board full of tiny notes
Schemas - Schemas are mental frameworks or templates that help us organize and make sense of the world around us. They are cognitive structures that represent our knowledge, beliefs, and expectations about specific concepts or situations. In psychology, schemas are seen as a fundamental part of human cognition and are believed to influence how we perceive, interpret, and remember information. For example, if a person has a schema for "restaurant," they might expect to see certain things when they enter a restaurant, such as tables, chairs, waitstaff, menus, etc. This schema helps them organize their experiences and make predictions about what they might encounter in the future. In public messaging, schemas can be used to influence how people think and feel about certain issues or topics. Advertisers, for example, often use schemas to create associations between their products and positive emotions or experiences. For instance, a car company might use imagery of a family on a road trip to evoke a sense of adventure and to create a schema for their brand as being associated with fun family experiences. Schemas can also be used to frame public policy debates. Political candidates, for example, might use schemas to influence how voters think about issues such as taxes or healthcare. By invoking schemas like "fairness" or "responsibility," candidates can frame the debate in a way that makes their positions more appealing to voters. Overall, schemas play a significant role in both psychology and public messaging. They help us organize and interpret information, and they can be used to influence how people think, feel, and behave. Understanding how schemas work can help us become more aware of the ways in which our thoughts and emotions are influenced by the world around us.
foggy forest
Delusions - Delusions are false beliefs that persist despite evidence to the contrary. They are a symptom of certain mental health disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but can also be caused by other factors, such as drug use or a medical condition. When people have delusions, they may believe things that are not based in reality, such as that they are being watched by the government or that they have special powers. These beliefs can be very distressing and can interfere with a person's ability to function in their daily life. In some cases, mass delusional beliefs can develop, in which a large group of people share a false belief. This can happen when people are exposed to information or ideas that are not based in fact, but which are spread widely and persistently.
When people start to believe these ideas, it can be difficult to persuade them otherwise, even when presented with evidence to the contrary. Mass delusional beliefs can have significant consequences for public opinion and policy. For example, in the early 2000s, there was a widespread belief that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), which was not based in fact. Despite evidence to the contrary, many people, including politicians and members of the public, believed that Iraq was a threat and supported the U.S. invasion of the country. This mass delusional belief had significant consequences for U.S. foreign policy, leading to a long and costly war that was based on false information. In conclusion, delusions are false beliefs that persist despite evidence to the contrary. Mass delusional beliefs can develop when people are exposed to false information or ideas, and can have significant consequences for public opinion and policy. It is important to critically evaluate information and seek out reliable sources to avoid being swayed by false beliefs.
What does scaffolding have to do with framing, schemas, and delusions?
Your scaffolding is the structure new information has to connect to what you already know. While it is often spoken of as the supports, it is also the supports that exist in our brains to connect. We have control over that much and we have to use the power we have to stay in control. If your scaffolding is poor, you will fall for tricks of framing, schemas, and be more susceptible to delusion.
Why does this combination make it easy to manipulate people?
It's important to recognize the potential negative impact of authoritarian parenting styles on cognitive development and critical thinking skills, and to work towards promoting more supportive and nurturing approaches to parenting and education so we are not susceptible. By understanding the way people think and behave, politicians and marketers can craft messages that appeal to our desires and fears, influencing our decision-making processes.
a projected image of a wooden figurine
For example, during election season, politicians use psychology to sway voters to their side. They may use fear tactics to make people afraid of the other party or candidate, or they may use promises of rewards to appeal to people's desires for a better future.
Framing is another powerful tool that can be used to control people. Framing refers to the way information is presented to the public. By framing an issue in a certain way, politicians and marketers can influence public opinion. For example, if a politician frames an issue as a matter of national security, they can sway people to support their policies, even if those policies are not in their best interests.
Schemas are mental frameworks that people use to understand the world around them. They are built over time through experience and exposure to different ideas and concepts. Schemas can be powerful because they shape the way people interpret new information. For example, if someone has a schema that all politicians are corrupt, they may be more likely to believe negative information about a politician, even if it is not based in fact.
Delusions are false beliefs that persist despite evidence to the contrary. Mass delusional beliefs can develop when people are exposed to false information or ideas. These beliefs can be very difficult to change, even when presented with evidence to the contrary. For example, during the early 2000s, there was a widespread belief that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. This belief was not based in fact, but it was spread widely and persistently, leading to a long and costly war that was based on false information. The public was essentially delusional.
There were several factors that may have contributed to why the public did not choose to listen to truthful information on the WMDs and Iraq, and why it was easy for them to believe the lies. There was a lot of fear and anxiety after the September 11th terrorist attacks. Many people were looking for someone to blame and felt that taking action against Iraq was justified. This fear and anxiety may have made people more susceptible to accepting false information out of confusion and desperation. Then there was a lot of misinformation and propaganda being spread by the government and the media. The Bush administration made claims about the existence of WMDs that were not based in fact, and these claims were repeated and amplified by many media outlets. This made it easy for people to believe the false information, as it was being presented as fact by trusted sources, making the public, functionally delusional. Thirdly, there was a lack of critical thinking and skepticism among the public. Many people may have simply accepted the information they were presented with, rather than questioning it or seeking out additional information.
This lack of critical thinking may have been exacerbated by the fear and anxiety that many people were feeling at the time. Overall, the public's failure to listen to truthful information on the WMDs and Iraq was likely due to a combination of fear, misinformation, and a lack of critical thinking. These factors made it easy for people to accept false information and difficult for them to discern the truth.
These concepts can all work together to control people and sway public opinion and policy. By using psychology, framing, schemas, and delusions, politicians and marketers can craft messages that appeal to our emotions and desires, making it easier for them to control us.
How to protect yourself?
Things you can do broadly to make sure you don’t fall for it:
Be aware that people can leave information out to sway you
Understand people lie
Question motives, even for people you think you should be able to trust
Critically examine what makes you trust a source or person
Deal with your attachment disorders
Watch your media consumption
Search for deeper information
Corroborate sources
Periodically systemically question your beliefs
Expand your horizons
Listen to someone you don’t like (you don’t have to agree, but there is tremendous power in listening, they tell on themselves if you pay attention)
Don’t stuff your feelings down; if you are overflowing all the time, you can’t stay in control well enough to process difficult things well under that pressure, that leads to lying to yourself to cope
Just ask people their motives; might seem awkward, but you are entitled to that if someone wants your audience
blank puzzle pieces
By understanding why people are acting certain ways towards you and taking steps to safeguard ourselves against them, we can ensure that we are making informed decisions that have our best collective interests in mind based on facts and evidence. By questioning our own beliefs automatically, seeking out reliable sources of information, and critically evaluating the information presented to us, we can protect ourselves from falling victim to psychological manipulation.
It is important to stay vigilant and keep on top of the programming of these systems that we receive so that we do not fall victim to messaging that others demand we accept. By doing so, we can ensure that our decision-making is based on our own values and interests rather than being controlled by external forces so we stay in control, where we belong.
Here is a list of resources related to the claims made in the provided source information:
Scaffolding:
"Scaffolding Children's Learning: Vygotsky and Early Childhood Education" by L. Newman and J. Holzman
"Scaffolding in Education: An Overview" by E. Wood, P. Bruner, and R. Ross
"Scaffolding and Learning: Its Role in Nurturing New Learners" by S. S. Chong and S. L. Cheah
Framing:
"Framing Public Issues" by S. Iyengar
"The Psychology of Framing Effects" by D. A. Levin
"Framing Theory" by A. A. A. Martens and C. J. Carpentier
Schemas:
"Cognitive Psychology: Connecting Mind, Research, and Everyday Experience" by E. M. Goldstein
"Schemas in Problem Solving" by S. M. Smith and K. J. Holyoak
"Schemas and Memory Consolidation" by L. Kensinger
Delusions:
"Delusions and Their Impact on Recovery and Quality of Life" by T. Wykes and M. David
"Delusions in Schizophrenia: A Review of Recent Research Findings" by M. van der Gaag and M. W. van der Helm
"Delusions and Reality Testing" by P. D. Harvey and C. Davidson
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