Schemas Illuminated by Neuroscience

Chapter 1 offers a fascinating exploration of how our relationships with reality are shaped by memory-driven constructs. Through Erika’s powerful emotional journey, it uncovers the profound influence of memory on our perception of the world. It introduces the concept of phylogenetic memory, which we inherit from our genes due to evolutionary processes. To do so, the book uses Panksepp’s seven primary affective systems through which psychological needs manifest. Phylogenetic memory interacts with the environment, forming what is termed “memory of experience,” which implicitly builds models of both external and internal realities. Early maladaptive schemas, identified by Young, are a category of these models. Once formed, schemas function predictively, helping individuals anticipate outcomes and manage energy efficiently. The memory of experience prepares us for future situations without requiring a constant reassessment. Schemas, operating as primary and secondary Panksepp processes, are perceived as emotional truths by individuals, while the tertiary (cortical) process can reflect on them but not directly change them. In this view, schemas are seen as a predictive organizational structure of memory—primarily implicit and whose function is to promote adaptation by automating as many perception-action modules as possible. Keywords: Constructs; phylogenetic memory; memory of experience; models; schemas; emotional truths; predictive; implicit; perception-action modules.