Why don´t other people see what is wrong?

In our daily interactions, it's common to find ourselves questioning why others don’t perceive situations the same way we do, especially when it comes to identifying what seems blatantly “wrong” or problematic. This divergence in perception can lead to frustration, misunderstanding, and even conflict.

Understanding Cognitive Schemas

Schemas are mental frameworks or “blueprints” we use to organize and interpret information. These frameworks are shaped by our experiences, culture, upbringing, and even our personalities. They help us navigate the complexities of the world by allowing us to quickly filter, prioritize, and make sense of information without processing every detail from scratch.

Schemas are essential because they enable us to interpret new information based on our existing knowledge and beliefs. However, they also lead to selective attention and can create “blind spots” in our understanding, as we are naturally inclined to focus on information that aligns with our pre-existing schemas and disregard information that doesn’t fit. This selective perception can lead to a lack of awareness of problems or issues that seem apparent to others.

How Schemas Influence Perception

Schemas impact perception in several ways:

1. Selective Attention: We naturally focus on information that aligns with our existing schemas and ignore what doesn’t. For example, if someone has a schema that "people are generally honest," they may overlook behaviors that suggest dishonesty or manipulation, while someone with a more skeptical schema might spot potential deceit quickly.

2. Confirmation Bias: Schemas are self-reinforcing. When we encounter information that aligns with our schema, we are more likely to accept it without question, strengthening our existing beliefs. On the other hand, information that contradicts our schemas is often dismissed, ignored, or forgotten. For instance, someone with a strong belief in a particular political ideology may overlook or rationalize the flaws within that ideology, even if they’re obvious to others.

3. Emotional Attachment: Our schemas are tied not just to information but to our emotions and sense of identity. If acknowledging a problem threatens a person’s schema—say, about their workplace or a close relationship—they may unconsciously ignore evidence of the problem to avoid cognitive dissonance, the discomfort that arises from holding contradictory beliefs or information.

4. Cultural and Social Influences: Schemas are also culturally and socially influenced. Social environments often reinforce certain schemas, which can lead to a collective blind spot within groups or societies. For example, in a work culture where high stress and overwork are normalized, people might not see burnout as a serious issue—even if it is affecting everyone’s health—because their schema equates high productivity with success.

Why Don’t Others See the Same “Wrongs”?

Let’s apply schema theory to understand why others might not see what we consider “wrong” in certain situations:

• Different Lived Experiences: A person’s past experiences significantly influence their schemas. Someone who has grown up in an environment where certain issues (like microaggressions or ethical shortcuts) were normalized might not recognize these as problems. For them, these behaviors fit into an “acceptable” schema of social interaction, while someone with different experiences might see these behaviors as clearly problematic.

• Vested Interests and Defensive Schemas: People may unconsciously build schemas that protect their self-interest or worldview. A manager who has invested years in a flawed project may resist acknowledging its issues due to the schema they’ve constructed around its “inevitability” or “importance.” Admitting failure or recognizing ethical issues might threaten their self-concept or career standing, leading them to ignore problems that may be apparent to others.

• Moral and Cultural Schemas: Our cultural background plays a significant role in shaping what we perceive as “right” or “wrong.” Some cultures place a strong emphasis on hierarchy and respect for authority, which might lead individuals to overlook unethical behavior by higher-ups. In contrast, someone from a culture that prioritizes individual rights and equality might quickly see those behaviors as unjust.

• Schemas and Social Conditioning: Group dynamics can also contribute to schemas that ignore “wrongs.” Social psychology research shows that in-group pressure can lead individuals to conform to the group’s norms, even if they’re personally uncomfortable with them. If someone’s schema aligns with the group's belief that “everything is fine,” they may find it challenging to see or acknowledge problems, especially if doing so would mean breaking ranks.

The Cognitive Challenges of Recognizing Alternative Perspectives

When people hold onto their schemas, it often creates cognitive barriers to seeing what others see. Several psychological mechanisms reinforce these barriers:

• Cognitive Dissonance: Recognizing a “wrong” may cause cognitive dissonance if it clashes with one’s existing schemas. For example, an employee who believes strongly in their company’s mission may resist recognizing unethical practices within the company, as doing so would create tension between their belief in the company and the reality of its behavior.

• Motivated Reasoning: This is the tendency to interpret information in a way that aligns with one’s motivations or desired outcomes. For instance, someone in denial about a friend’s manipulative behavior might subconsciously avoid evidence of it to maintain their schema of friendship.

• Availability Heuristic: The availability heuristic can cause people to judge the significance of something based on how readily examples come to mind. If someone has rarely encountered a specific type of “wrong” in their life, they may underestimate its importance, even if it’s an issue others are deeply concerned about.

Moving Beyond Schemas to See Other Perspectives

While schemas serve as a useful cognitive shortcut, they can also create barriers to understanding alternative perspectives. To overcome these barriers:

1. Practice Self-Awareness: Becoming aware of one’s schemas can help reduce their influence. Recognizing one’s tendencies for confirmation bias and selective attention can allow someone to question their own assumptions and biases.

2. Engage with Diverse Perspectives: Exposure to different viewpoints, cultures, and experiences can broaden one’s schemas. Reading about other perspectives, engaging in conversations with diverse people, and reflecting on these interactions can help expand schemas and reduce blind spots.

3. Encourage Constructive Feedback: Seeking feedback from others and encouraging open discussions can challenge one’s schemas and reveal blind spots. Feedback can serve as a reality check that helps a person see past their cognitive biases.

4. Reflect on Emotional Responses: Since schemas are closely tied to emotions, noticing emotional reactions (like defensiveness) can signal that a schema is being challenged. Reflecting on why a particular perspective feels uncomfortable may help uncover unconscious biases.

Schemas are essential cognitive tools that help us make sense of the world, but they can also limit our perception and understanding of what others see as “wrong.” By shaping what we pay attention to and interpret as significant, schemas can lead to profound differences in perception, even among people with similar backgrounds. Recognizing the role of schemas in shaping our worldviews can foster empathy, self-awareness, and open-mindedness, helping us bridge the gap between what we see and what others see.