ABSTRACT

Other chapters in this book have discussed types of knowledge structures such as scripts and MOPs. These structures serve to organize related experiences based upon their similarities; for example, restaurants that share the features of fast-food establishments could be organized under the fast-food restaurant script in memory, which would provide the appropriate expectations for that situation. Another kind of similarity between episodes, themes, involves a more abstract level of information. For example, consider the many types of knowledge applicable to this story:

Nixon had struggled hard to beat J. F. Kennedy, but his efforts were not able to win him the election. When his supporters finally accepted the inevitable defeat, there were more than a few tears and hollow hopes for 1968. After successfully challenging Humphrey in 1968, Nixon was finally inaugurated.