What does "mental model" mean?

Someone's understanding of how a system works.

Mental model

Q: What is a synonym for "mental model"?

Common synonyms include: abstract model, base concept, basic concept, belief network, biology concepts, circuit concept.

noun

noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun

1
Someone's understanding of how a system works.
"My mental model, however, extends over multiple time periods. In time period one, you import a large number of guest workers who impose adjustment costs on their neighbors, including other immigrants with whom they compete for resources."

Synonyms

All synonyms

abstract model base concept basic concept belief network biology concepts circuit concept

Antonyms

All antonyms

divergent beliefs fragmented beliefs ignorance inaccuracy

Example

More examples

"My mental model, however, extends over multiple time periods. In time period one, you import a large number of guest workers who impose adjustment costs on their neighbors, including other immigrants with whom they compete for resources."

Etymology

Introduced by Scottish philosopher Kenneth Craik in The Nature of Explanation (1943).

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