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What is Mental Model ?

A mental model is an individual’s thought process or cognitive representation of how something in the world works. It’s essentially our internal ‘map’ of reality, created through personal experiences, perceptions, and understandings.

Additional Glossary Terms

Variety

In cybernetics, variety is the main way to measure the complexity of a system. It refers to the number of possible states a system can have and is essential for

Cognitive Mapping

Cognitive mapping is a specific visualization technique used primarily to capture and represent the mental structures and beliefs of an individual regarding a problematic situation. It serves as a tool

Closed Systems

A closed system, contrary to an open system, is one that does not exchange information, energy, or material with its environment. However, in reality, completely closed systems rarely exist, and

Negentropy

Negentropy, also known as negative entropy or syntropy, is the concept that denotes the opposite of entropy. It represents a measure of order, organization, or information within a system. Unlike

Environment

In systems thinking, the term “environment” refers to the external context or surroundings in which a system exists and interacts. It comprises all the elements that surround and may impact

Pathologies

Pathologies refer to undesirable or dysfunctional behaviours or patterns within a system. See Also: Archetypes , Patterns