Schemas: Mental Models and Cognitive Shortcuts and Scam Victims
Another Way in which our Mental or Cognitive Shortcuts can be Used Against Us!
Primary Category: Psychology of Scams
Authors:
• Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
About This Article
Schemas are mental frameworks that help people organize and interpret the information they encounter based on prior experiences and observations. These mental models are not always accurate reflections of reality but are shaped by positive or negative experiences and can be influenced by both true and false information.
For scam victims, these schemas can hide the truth by leading them to believe that the scammer’s actions fit the pattern of a trustworthy person. During the scam, the mental models they’ve built prevent them from seeing red flags or inconsistencies, as they subconsciously try to fit new information into their existing beliefs.
After the scam is exposed, these same mental models may cause difficulty in seeking or accepting help, as victims may mistrust those offering support or struggle with feelings of shame and embarrassment. Rebuilding and reshaping these mental models is essential for scam victims to recover and move forward.
How Schemas/Mental Models Shape Every Scam Victim’s Perception of Reality
Schemas or Mental Models are the internal representations of how we understand and interact with the world around us.
These mental models are not exact mirrors of reality but rather simplified frameworks formed from our accumulated experiences, observations, and interpretations. These mental models can be accurate or distorted, based on true or false information, and they shape how we see other people and situations.
For scam victims, these mental models play a significant role at both the beginning of the scam and during the scam, concealing the scammer’s true intentions and making it difficult to see the truth. After the scam, these mental models can even hinder the recovery process by preventing victims from accepting help.
“ A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes”. — Mahatma Gandhi
Psychological Schemas
The correct psychological term for these “mental models” is schemas. Schemas are cognitive frameworks or structures that help individuals organize and interpret information based on their past experiences and perceptions. They influence how we perceive the world, others, and ourselves, and play a critical role in guiding our behaviors and expectations.
In scams, victims develop certain schemas about relationships, trust, and people, which scammers can exploit. These schemas, often based on past experiences of trustworthiness and positive interactions, create blind spots that make it harder for victims to see red flags. When the scam is exposed, the dissonance between their schema (what they believed to be true) and the reality (that they were deceived) can lead to emotional and psychological turmoil, distress, and trauma.
Mental Models That Shape Our Perception
Schemas are mental structures that help people organize and interpret information based on their past experiences and knowledge. Introduced by psychologist Jean Piaget, schemas allow individuals to make sense of the world and predict outcomes based on patterns they’ve recognized over time. These cognitive frameworks can encompass ideas about oneself, others, relationships, and general life events. While schemas are essential for helping us function efficiently in our daily lives, they are not always accurate reflections of reality. Instead, they are shaped by both positive and negative experiences, which can sometimes distort our understanding of people and situations.
Piaget suggested that children sort the knowledge they acquire through their experiences and interactions into groupings known as schemas. When new information is acquired, it can either be assimilated into existing schemas or accommodated through revising an existing schema or creating an entirely new category of information.
For scam victims, the mental models they develop play a significant role in their interactions with scammers. Initially, their schemas about trust, relationships, and communication may help scammers mask their true intentions. Over time, these same schemas make it difficult for victims to recognize red flags or accept that they’ve been deceived. Even after the scam is revealed, these mental models can hinder victims’ ability to seek or accept help, as their perceptions of the people offering support may be skewed by mistrust or confusion. Understanding how schemas work is key to comprehending how scams unfold and why victims struggle with recovery.
How Schemas/Mental Models Work
Schemas function in the brain as mental shortcuts, helping individuals organize and interpret the vast amounts of information they encounter. The brain regions primarily involved in processing schemas include the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, and the basal ganglia. Each plays a unique role in how schemas are formed, stored, and activated:
Prefrontal Cortex: This area, particularly the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, is important for higher-order thinking, decision-making, and planning. It helps integrate new information with existing schemas/models, guiding how individuals process new experiences or changes in their environment. When someone encounters a situation that fits their schema, the prefrontal cortex helps in recognizing patterns and aligning expectations.
Hippocampus: The hippocampus, a region associated with memory consolidation, plays a significant role in storing and retrieving schemas. It organizes long-term memories and helps compare new information against past experiences. This comparison is essential in maintaining schemas and updating them when necessary. Of course, we now know about how the hippocampus can be impaired and its effects on this.
Amygdala: The amygdala is deeply involved in emotional processing, especially when schemas are connected to emotional experiences, such as fear or trust. In the context of a scam, if a victim’s schema involves trust or affection, the amygdala may inhibit the detection of warning signs due to emotional attachment, making it easier for scammers to manipulate victims.
Basal Ganglia: The basal ganglia are involved in habit formation and automatic processing. Once schemas become deeply ingrained, they can function as automatic responses to situations, reducing cognitive load but also making it harder to recognize new, conflicting information.
Together, these brain regions work to process schemas by linking memories, emotions, and learned behaviors. In the context of scam victims, these schemas can be used to reinforce trust in the scammer, making it difficult for the victim to detect deceit. Even after the scam is revealed, schemas tied to trust or self-judgment can delay recovery, as they influence how victims perceive themselves and others trying to help.
Schemas are different than Cognitive Bias or Logical Fallacy
Schemas, cognitive biases, and logical fallacies are all mental processes that affect how we think, perceive, and make decisions, but they function in different ways:
Schemas
Definition: Schemas are mental frameworks that help individuals organize and interpret information. They are built from past experiences and are used to understand new information by categorizing it according to prior knowledge. Schemas influence how we perceive the world and anticipate outcomes.
Function: Schemas shape how we view the world by filtering new experiences through the lens of previous ones. For example, a person’s schema about trust can influence how they approach relationships and judge new people.
Examples: A scam victim may have a “trust” schema based on past experiences, which scammers manipulate to gain trust quickly.
Involvement: Schemas are automatic and operate in the background, influencing how we make sense of complex information efficiently. They are fundamental to learning and memory.
Cognitive Biases
Definition: A cognitive bias is a systematic error in thinking that affects the decisions and judgments that people make. These biases often result from the brain’s attempt to simplify information processing.
Function: Cognitive biases are mental shortcuts (heuristics) that allow the brain to process information quickly, but they often lead to irrational or flawed conclusions. Biases can distort reality, cause us to make snap judgments, and influence decision-making without our conscious awareness.
Examples: Confirmation bias, where people favor information that confirms their preexisting beliefs, or availability bias, where individuals overestimate the likelihood of events based on how easily examples come to mind.
Involvement: Cognitive biases typically arise in situations involving uncertainty or incomplete information and can lead to errors in judgment and decision-making. Scam victims might experience optimism bias, believing they are less likely to fall victim to fraud than others.
Logical Fallacies
Definition: Logical fallacies are flaws in reasoning that undermine the logic of an argument. They are errors in the structure or content of reasoning that lead to invalid conclusions.
Function: Logical fallacies occur when arguments are structured improperly or when the reasoning lacks solid foundation. They are often used in rhetoric and debate to manipulate or deceive, but they can also stem from faulty thinking.
Examples: Straw man fallacy (misrepresenting someone’s argument to make it easier to attack) or ad hominem (attacking the person instead of their argument).
Involvement: Logical fallacies are more about errors in formal reasoning, often identified in arguments or discussions. While cognitive biases are about how we process information, logical fallacies are specific to how we present and analyze arguments.
Key Differences
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- Schemas are mental models that organize and simplify knowledge from experience.
- Cognitive biases are subconscious tendencies that distort decision-making and perception, often leading to errors in judgment.
- Logical fallacies are errors in reasoning and argument structure that lead to invalid conclusions.
With Scam Victims
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- Schemas might make them believe that a relationship or financial deal fits familiar, trustworthy patterns.
- Cognitive biases could lead them to ignore warning signs (e.g., confirmation bias or optimism bias).
- Logical fallacies might be used by scammers to manipulate the victim’s reasoning (e.g., appeal to authority or false dilemma).
Each plays a role in how a person might be deceived, but they operate in distinct ways.
Mental Models at the Start of a Scam
At the start of a scam, victims are often primed to trust the person approaching them online because their mental models tell them that relationships or interactions—whether romantic or financial—should be based on trust, honesty, and good faith. These models are shaped by positive past experiences, social norms, and personal beliefs about human nature. When a scammer approaches with a carefully crafted persona, they exploit the victim’s mental model of what a trustworthy person looks like. This model might include kindness, attentiveness, and shared values, all of which scammers mimic to gain trust.
Because these initial mental models are built from the victim’s understanding of how genuine relationships should unfold, it becomes easy for the scammer to manipulate them. The victim has no reason to question their model because it’s based on what they believe to be true about people and relationships. Scammers carefully reinforce this model by behaving in ways that match the victim’s expectations, making it nearly impossible for the victim to see the red flags early on.
Mental Models During the Scam
As the scam progresses, the mental model that the victim has constructed becomes a barrier to seeing the truth. Even when small inconsistencies or unusual requests arise, the victim’s mental model makes it hard to accept that they are being deceived. The scammer continues to feed the victim’s model by providing plausible explanations or by playing on emotions like sympathy or urgency.
This mental model becomes a powerful filter that shapes how the victim processes new information. Rather than objectively analyzing the facts—such as requests for money or inconsistencies in the scammer’s story—the victim tries to fit these anomalies into the model they’ve already constructed. For example, if the scammer claims to need emergency financial help, the victim may justify this request by thinking, “Well, they’ve been so kind and reliable up until now, so this must be genuine.” The mental model blinds the victim to the truth, preventing them from seeing the scam for what it is.
Mental Models After the Scam
Once the scam is revealed, the mental model that the victim built around the scammer collapses. This can be psychologically devastating because the victim not only loses money or emotional investment but also has to confront the fact that their entire understanding of the relationship was based on lies. This breakdown in their mental model of reality can lead to confusion, self-doubt, and a reluctance to trust others in the future.
Additionally, this shattered model can create difficulty in accepting help. After the scam, when professionals or loved ones try to offer support, the victim might make snap judgments about them based on their now-warped mental model of trust. They may feel ashamed or embarrassed and believe that others are judging them, which leads to withdrawing or rejecting help. The mental model they now have of the world could include the belief that no one can be trusted, making it harder to engage with recovery resources.
Victims may also fall into the trap of thinking that if they couldn’t see the scammer’s deception, how can they trust someone else to help them? This mindset can delay the healing process because they resist accepting advice, counseling, or other forms of support. The mental model, which once served to protect their sense of reality, now acts as a barrier to rebuilding their life after the scam.
Becoming Aware of Your Schemas
Scam victims can become aware that they are relying on mental models, or schemas, by recognizing patterns in their thinking and emotional responses. These mental models, developed through prior experiences, often guide their interpretation of new information, even when it contradicts reality. Victims may notice that they are overly trusting or dismissive of red flags because their schemas are influencing how they process information. Awareness is the first step in diminishing the control these schemas have.
Here are strategies to reduce the influence of schemas:
Reflect on Patterns: Victims should take time to reflect on how they interpret events and people. Are they assuming trustworthiness too quickly? Are they ignoring inconsistencies in the scammer’s behavior? Recognizing these thought patterns is key to understanding when mental models are at play.
Challenge Assumptions: Once aware of a schema, victims can start challenging their assumptions. For example, if they tend to believe that everyone who shows affection is trustworthy, they should actively question that belief. Asking themselves, “What evidence do I have for this belief?” can help break the automatic reliance on outdated schemas.
Seek External Perspectives: Sometimes it is hard for a victim to see the flaws in their schemas. Speaking with trusted friends, counselors, or support groups can provide an outside perspective, helping the victim question their ingrained mental models.
Practice Mindfulness: Mindfulness can help victims become aware of their thoughts without reacting automatically. By practicing mindfulness, they can create a space between their thoughts and reactions, allowing them to pause and reflect before acting based on their mental models.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is a therapeutic approach that helps individuals identify and challenge distorted thinking patterns. Scam victims can work with a therapist to deconstruct harmful schemas and replace them with more accurate and helpful ones.
By increasing self-awareness, actively questioning assumptions, and seeking support, scam victims can diminish the control that their mental models have over them, helping them move toward recovery.
Additional Points About Schemas
To fully understand schemas and their impact, there are a few additional key points to consider that haven’t been covered:
Types of Schemas: There are different categories of schemas, such as self-schemas, which influence how we perceive ourselves, social schemas, which dictate how we interpret others, and event schemas (also known as scripts), which guide our expectations of situations. Understanding these distinctions can clarify how scammers manipulate victims by influencing different areas of their thought processes.
Schema Activation and Priming: Schemas can be activated by specific stimuli or contexts, a concept known as priming. When a scam victim receives repeated messages reinforcing certain expectations (like trust or affection), their related schema is primed to expect these behaviors, making them more vulnerable to deception. Recognizing how certain cues trigger these responses can help victims become more self-aware.
Schema Maintenance and Confirmation Bias: Once a schema is formed, individuals tend to seek out information that confirms it, a phenomenon known as confirmation bias. Scam victims may overlook red flags because they unconsciously focus on the information that aligns with their mental model of trustworthiness. Understanding confirmation bias helps in breaking the automatic reliance on schemas.
Schema Therapy: Schema Therapy is a form of cognitive therapy that targets deeply ingrained schemas that may cause emotional distress or unhealthy behaviors. This approach could be useful for scam victims dealing with long-term effects of trust issues or distorted self-perceptions.
Cultural Influence on Schemas: Schemas are also influenced by cultural factors. For instance, a scam victim’s cultural background might shape their understanding of relationships, trust, or authority figures, which can impact how they respond to scammers. Recognizing the cultural context of schemas can help victims understand the deeper roots of their thinking patterns.
By integrating these aspects into our understanding of schemas, we gain a fuller picture of how they shape scam victims’ perceptions, behaviors, and recovery processes.
Overcoming Schemas/Mental Models in Scam Recovery
To recover from a scam, victims need to recognize that their mental models, while built on past experiences, may no longer serve them well. Therapy, self-reflection, and education can help them dismantle these distorted views and develop healthier, more reality-based models. This process involves re-learning how to trust themselves and others, as well as understanding how scammers manipulate these models to exploit their emotions and beliefs.
Accepting that mental models are flexible and can be re-shaped is key to moving forward. Scam victims must gradually rebuild their perception of the world, learning to identify red flags and trust their instincts in new ways. This also means learning to open up to support from trusted sources, allowing them to form healthier relationships and regain control of their lives.
Summary
Schemas or mental models play a significant role in both the victimization and recovery process of scam victims. While these models can make it difficult to see the truth during a scam, they can also be re-constructed to support healing and resilience after the fact. Understanding the role of these mental frameworks is a crucial step in helping scam victims rebuild their sense of trust and reality.
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A Note About Labeling!
We often use the term ‘scam victim’ in our articles, but this is a convenience to help those searching for information in search engines like Google. It is just a convenience and has no deeper meaning. If you have come through such an experience, YOU are a Survivor! It was not your fault. You are not alone! Axios!
This is but one component, one piece of the puzzle …
Understanding how the human mind is manipulated and controlled involves recognizing that the tactics employed by deceivers are multifaceted and complex. This information is just one aspect of a broader spectrum of vulnerabilities, tendencies, and techniques that permit us to be influenced and deceived. To grasp the full extent of how our minds can be influenced, it is essential to examine all the various processes and functions of our brains and minds, methods and strategies used the criminals, and our psychological tendencies (such as cognitive biases) that enable deception. Each part contributes to a larger puzzle, revealing how our perceptions and decisions can be subtly swayed. By appreciating the diverse ways in which manipulation occurs, we gain a more comprehensive understanding of the challenges we face in avoiding deception in its many forms.
“Thufir Hawat: Now, remember, the first step in avoiding a *trap* – is knowing of its existence.” — DUNE
“If you can fully understand your own mind, you can avoid any deception!” — Tim McGuinness, Ph.D.
“The essence of bravery is being without self-deception.” — Pema Chödrön
Statement About Victim Blaming
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims, we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
SCARS Resources:
- Getting Started: ScamVictimsSupport.org
- FREE enrollment in the SCARS Institute training programs for scam victims SCARSeducation.org
- For New Victims of Relationship Scams newvictim.AgainstScams.org
- Subscribe to SCARS Newsletter newsletter.againstscams.org
- Sign up for SCARS professional support & recovery groups, visit support.AgainstScams.org
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- Become a SCARS Member and get free counseling benefits, visit membership.AgainstScams.org
- Report each and every crime, learn how to at reporting.AgainstScams.org
- Learn more about Scams & Scammers at RomanceScamsNOW.com and ScamsNOW.com
- Learn more about the Psychology of Scams and Scam Victims: ScamPsychology.org
- Self-Help Books for Scam Victims are at shop.AgainstScams.org
- Donate to SCARS and help us help others at donate.AgainstScams.org
- Worldwide Crisis Hotlines: International Suicide Hotlines – OpenCounseling : OpenCounseling
- Campaign To End Scam Victim Blaming – 2024 (scamsnow.com)
Psychology Disclaimer:
All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in this and other SCARS articles are intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
Note about Mindfulness: Mindfulness practices have the potential to create psychological distress for some individuals. Please consult a mental health professional or experienced meditation instructor for guidance should you encounter difficulties.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
If you are in crisis, feeling desperate, or in despair please call 988 or your local crisis hotline.
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