The founder of the field of system dynamics, J.W. Forrester, went to great lengths to emphasize that all decisions are based on mental models. MIT professor John Sterman, in his classic textbook "Business Dynamics," elaborates:
"Most of us do not appreciate the ubiquity and invisibility of mental models, instead believing naively that our senses reveal the world as it is. On the contrary, our world is actively constructed (modeled) by our senses and brain."
As exhibit one, Sterman uses the Kanizsa triangle to show how we construct an image that doesn't actually exist...
Another famous example - that still drives me nuts - is Adelson's checker board. In this photo, square A and B are the exact same shade of grey! Honest. I've done the exercise over and over where you print the picture, cut out the squares and put them side-by-side. Same color. Every time.
Psychiatrist and Neuroscientist Daniel Siegel, in his book "Developing Minds," refers to mental models as casting shadows on the other systems of the mind. He discusses at length the different reactions and capabilities of children to calm themselves depending on their level and kind of emotional attachment to parents and the effect that this "model" has on them as adults - without them even being conscious of it themselves.
We don't know reality - we actively construct models as best we can to make sense of it - and most of that is path dependent based on our prior experience. Most of the modeling happens outside your conscious awareness. Mental models are simplified, scaled down versions of a larger, more complicated reality.
This is but one reason why humility and intellectual honesty are so important to our culture.
Comments