mental model
Internal thinking structure
A mental model is an internal representation of how something works—a simplified framework the mind uses to understand systems, predict outcomes, and guide decisions.
Engineers hold mental models of machines; economists of markets; children of why parents say no.
The term appears frequently in design and cognitive science: Users' mental models of the interface didn't match how it actually functioned.
Mental models can be powerful tools or sources of error when they diverge from reality.
- schemaOrganized representational structure
- paradigmGoverning framework of thought
- frameworkUnderlying support system
- frame of referenceContext for judgment
- mapSpatial representation of terrain
cognitive map · reasoning · worldview · big picture · perception · scaffold · cognition · heuristic · mindset · conceptualization · situational awareness · thought process · understanding · learning · prototype · thinking · problem-solving · comprehension
- modelssupermodel, spokesmodel, cover girl, mannequin, neural net
- mental constructsidea, concept, notion, belief, thought pattern
- mental shortcutsrule of thumb, hunch, gut feeling, educated guess, guesstimate
- mentalizingtheory of mind, mindreading, mentalization, mind reading, perspective taking
- creativityimagination, creativity, brainstorming, unique voice, inspiration
- knowledgeknowledge, common knowledge, general knowledge, factual knowledge, prior knowledge
mental modelreality
What actually exists
ground truth · objective reality · external world · real world · raw data
mental modeldirect experience
Unmediated personal encounter
lived experience · sensory perception · tacit knowledge · gut feeling · intuition
mental modelblank slate
Unmarked starting point
confusion · ignorance · cluelessness · beginner's mind · tabula rasa
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