anticipatory schema
in the perceptual cycle hypothesis, a structured pattern of knowledge (a “preunderstanding”) that influences an organism’s expectations in a given situation, thus guiding the organism’s perception of that situation (i.e., by preparing it to receive certain kinds of information or to perceive particular aspects of the situation) and ultimately directing its exploration and action. For example, a student entering an unfamiliar classroom for the first time may invoke a general classroom schema, which likely contains information about the general characteristics of such a room (the presence of a floor, a ceiling, four walls, a blackboard, desks, etc.) and leads the person to expect to encounter these things within this novel classroom. Since the general classroom schema does not contain information suggesting the presence of, say, a washing machine, the student would not spend time looking for this unanticipated item. Anticipatory schemas
are dynamic rather than static; although based on previous experience, they are continuously being revised as a result of new experiences. [defined in 1976 by Ulric Neisser]