Mental+Model

Certain basic principles of [|cognitive psychology] provide grounding for interaction design. These include concepts such as [|mental models],

A **mental model** is an explanation in someone's [|thought] process for how something works in the real world. It is a kind of internal symbol or representation of external reality, hypothesized to play a major role in [|cognition] and decision-making. Once formed, mental models may replace carefully considered analysis as a means of conserving time and energy. A simple example is the mental model of a wild animal as dangerous: upon encountering a raccoon or a snake, one who holds this model will likely retreat from the animal as if by reflex. Retreat is the result of the application of the mental model, and would probably not be the immediate reaction of one whose mental model of wild animals was formed solely from experience with similar stuffed toy animals, or who had not yet formed any mental models about wild raccoons or snakes.The Self Image/Mental Model Dynamic helps you control and understand your self-talk, in other words what is going on in your head, and how this affects your outside view of the world and vice versa. It is what you think inside and outside and how this push-pull relationship affects the other Dynamics.

Defined by Amy Allen