Have you ever thought that the brain can be taught to oil in a different way, in a new way? You just need to expand the set of mental models. They are natural and inherent in every person, even regardless of whether he knows about their presence. They form a versatile system - a worldview. We will understand this and much more in our article.
What is a mentality?
This is a form of thinking and a way of perceiving the world, characteristic of both the individual and a specific social group of people. A mental person is a personality trait that includes the conscious and the unconscious. The concept is determined by the composition of the mind, level of intelligence, or a set of psychological and social attitudes, options for analysis and perception of information received in the course of thinking and the process of sensations. Now we define the following term.
Mental models
First, let's understand systemic thinking. This is a look at the problem, in the solution of which the influencing circumstances are taken into account: the circle of communication, goals far and close, past and future. In linear thinking, only one causal line is considered. Here, there is the skill to look at the situation on a larger, wider and further basis. That is, if the task is not solved "head on", you can find a way out with the help of competent preparation, you may need to "go from all sides."
Now understanding what systemic thinking is, it can be used to analyze the main stimuli that will direct our mental image and methodology to solving problems. The quality of the result will be determined by the process used for their adoption. Let us try to examine our thinking on the subject of prejudices and misconceptions in it.
We will use systemic thinking:
- Directly to solve problems. And above all, to overcome the thought process that generates them.
- To detect and overcome shortcuts in template thinking.
- To show how our thinking is inseparable from emerging issues. Which is not easy to appear from nowhere. They are the result of events and what we think of them. We are the main link of our failures. Remaining at the same level of thinking that generates them, we will not solve them.
- You can understand and better understand beliefs and methods of action using systemic thinking, applying its principles to the direct process of thinking, since our beliefs also form a system.
Any work is directed by ideas, strategies, in other words, mental models, deeply embedded in the subconscious. "Mental" - because they lie in our mind, directing actions. And “models” - as we build and create them based on our experience. They can be called general ideas that shape our thoughts and actions, and ideas about the expected results.
Consider one of them
Let us give an example of a mental model. So:
- All such hypotheses simplify reality.
- We do not know the exact number of voters, but we know that it is huge.
- It is not known what characteristics of the candidate will serve as positive aspects for voting in his favor for some, and negative for others.
- But we will be based on the fact that persons of less popular candidates do not stand for voting.
The essence of a person’s cognitive function is to create mental models of the world. This means that when an individual learns something, he automatically builds a model of the object being studied. For example:
- Exploring the territory, makes a map of the area, that is, forms a geographical model.
- Studying the laws of physics, he builds mathematical models of these laws and so on.
When forming models, a person collects all possible information based on his senses, and then tries to present it in an understandable concise form. Models help in making decisions, for example, a geographical map is created in order to lay the right route, economic laws allow you to control the production process or sale of products.
Mental models give an overall picture of the world. And we, in turn, must improve its quality. Improve yourself, namely read books, learn new disciplines, learn from the experience of successful people.
Each person has them
Only the individual may not be aware of them. We perceive everything around them, live in them. That is, this can be seen from the way we talk about our own beliefs, which we adhere to, reject, or defend, accept that we have them. Having lost faith in something, as a rule, forever, it is necessary to fill the void inside. And here our mental models are able to change and develop with new experience, and getting into an unknown social sphere, for example, are forced to improve. This complicates the thinking process a little. Therefore, the value of the mental model is huge. It is important to take the processes that are responsible for their formation seriously.
Direct all our actions
Mental models are a stable anchor you can count on. We need a reverse force that confirms and feeds them. And sometimes I want to find her so much that people are happy and unhappy in order to affirm that they were right in their warning.
Thus, mental models fill with meaning the events through which we clarify our experience. Deeply settled in the subconscious models in a sense, organize the worldview. We use them to make distinctions and choices to determine what is important to us and what does not matter. We can take ideas for reality.
How does this happen? Our eyes see the world and capture pictures not as objectively as a camera. They work in tandem with the brain, which interprets the visible world using a different method. Therefore, what we see is a partial reality and a product of our way of seeing. The same is observed with the example of mental models; they form in an identical way what we see, hear and feel. They are common to all and are not immutable.
Thus, mental models are ideas based on past experience, strategies, perceptions that exist in the mind of a person and direct him to perform actions.
Consider the methods of formation
They are developed and maintained using the following basic tools:
- Crossing out. It is a filter of information based on interests, emotional state, perplexity and sensitivity.
- Construction. The ability to see what is not, the ability in the circumstance of uncertainty to detect interpretations similar to the truth, taking them for reality.
- Distortion. Transformation of life in reality with an understatement of some elements and an exaggeration of others.
- Generalization. The formation of mental models based on a single experience, which we perceive as a characteristic phenomenon.
All information entering the brain first passes through a filter. That is, it is compared with an established worldview and, if contrary to prevailing stereotypes, is screened out and accepted if confirmed. Further, the received data is distorted. We tie them to the facts already gathered before. In order to create a general picture, a part of the missing information is thought up and remembered as reliable. Then all information is generalized and a new mental model is formed. It remains in our minds forever, but can be adjusted.
How does it work in practice?
We give an example of the formation of a negative mental model. Let's say Natalya Andreevna promised to make a presentation for the lesson. But did not fulfill the promise.
Stages of the formation of a new model:
- Screening: we evaluate the event and compare it with expectations: “I knew that you could not rely on it.”
- Distortion: we interpret the situation in our favor: "My fault is not here, it’s Natalya Andreyevna’s fault."
- Fantasy: inventing something that really didn’t exist. For example: "If I asked her to prepare for an open lesson, she would also not fulfill the assignment."
- Generalization: we interpret an isolated case as characteristic: "You cannot rely on it in anything."
Types of Mental Models
There are two types of models:
- Negative. They do not solve the problem, but only exacerbate it. Limit opportunities.
- Positive. Derived from the situation. Multiply opportunities.
All mental models create a complex system - our worldview. They can both beneficially influence the process of learning and development, and interfere with this.
The presence of limiting mental models is indicated by:
- The tendency to uphold the fact that all your ideas are fully true.
- Blame the problems of yourself and others.
- A narrow circle of interests that does not allow you to learn new things.
- The desire to circumvent uncertainty, and rather draw conclusions.
- The constant use of phrases: "should not", "should", "unacceptable" and others.
- The systematic use of generalizing concepts: "all", "nobody", "never" and others.
- The habit of bringing everything together under one line, based on an isolated case.
- Lack of curiosity.
- The experience gained does not contribute to the revision of existing beliefs.
And models that help to understand and better navigate the right decision are called "supportive". To start working with them, it is necessary to recreate the internal picture of the perception of the world, to work out and study them well. You need to conduct educational conversations in order to demonstrate your thinking, open yourself to the influence that other people can have.
Let's talk about psychological abnormalities
Autism, mental retardation, hyperactivity and other diseases speak of mental disorders. And here it is very important not to notice the prerequisites of the disease, but to recognize that they are and the child needs professional help. It is necessary to observe the development of the baby from birth. It should alert the causeless crying and excessive hypertonicity or muscle hypotonicity, poor sleep, etc. In this case, you need to contact specialists.
Mental disorders are the cause of poor adaptation in society. Such children suffer from a low level of intelligence, passivity in all areas of activity. They have features that are expressed in poor development of motor and speech functions, a decrease in the cognitive process, and so on. The degree of their manifestation will vary from mild to deep forms. The main disorders in children with mental disorders:
- Communicative. There is no full interaction with others, in particular, parents.
- Motor.
- Sensory. Underdeveloped perception.
Mental disorders are increasingly being diagnosed in humans. This is facilitated by many factors: ecology, heredity, stress, etc. And schizophrenia plays a leading role among mental illnesses.
Let's move on to the next question.
Let's talk about common mental models. They form the boundaries for the same perception of reality by the participants in the relationship and serve as a fundamental factor in any joint work. They are characterized by the following components: general knowledge, values, expectations, values, beliefs. General mental models are the basis of any interaction.
Factors affecting their education
So, allocate:
- Biological. These are the racial external characteristics of a person - skin and hair color, eye shape, growth, and so on. The genetic background also matters.
- The social factor. Mentality, level of culture of society.
- Individual. Does not coincide with the mental model of society. It develops exclusively at the level of one person.
So, we figured out the mental models of a person, learned how they are formed and what they are, what meaning they have in life. They are an integral part of it, help simplify it. There is another concept of "mental age." Means the level of intellectual development of an individual determined by special tests.
And finally, we will learn how to make decisions using models
When a problem arises, we draw conclusions based on our experience and beliefs. And in order to achieve the goal, the situation must be considered from different angles, and this will require a set of mental models. So, to the tips:
- Simplify the complex.
- Eradicate prejudice.
- Look at the world wider, through the prism of various disciplines.
It is necessary to improve oneself, to create many mental models. And they should be from different disciplines, because it is impossible to concentrate the whole world in one particular area.