Question

Korsakov's syndrome is a neurological disorder more closely associated with abnormal psychology than with social psychology. Why would the authors of your text describe the symptoms of Korsakov's syndrome and provide Oliver Sacks's description of his encounter with a patient suffering from that disease? This discussion illustrates

A) the dangers of relying on heuristics to understand medical problems.
B) the importance of schemas in helping humans make sense of their experiences.
C) the power of schemas to create reality.
D) how unreliable our schemas can be.
E) the hazards of holding rigid, inflexible schemas.

Answer 1

Korsakov's syndrome is given as an example to explain the role of schemas in interpreting experiences. Oliver Sacks's encounter with a patient highlights the significance of these cognitive structures and how they can be affected in neurological conditions.

Step-by-step explanation:

Korsakov's syndrome is a neurological disorder associated with severe memory problems, often due to chronic alcohol abuse, which can lead to a significant deficit in absorbing new information. This condition could be discussed in a psychology textbook to illustrate the importance and function of schemas in understanding and interpreting experiences.

The correct answer to the student's question, "Why would the authors describe the symptoms of Korsakov's syndrome and provide Oliver Sacks's description of his encounter with a patient suffering from that disease?" is B) the importance of schemas in helping humans make sense of their experiences.