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Mental Models

A collection of 9 posts

Hanlon’s Razor

When something bad happens, we are more likely to assume malice than error. We think someone has been planning on doing us bad even when it’s just a simple mistake. When someone cuts us in the traffic, we are more likely to think them as bad people even when

Occam’s Razor — Simple Is Better

Decision Making

Occam’s Razor — Simple Is Better

One of the mental frameworks discussed in the first volume of the Great Mental Models by Shane Parrish and the Farnam Street team is Occam’s razor. The essence of Occam’s razor is that simpler explanations are more likely to be true than complicated ones. This classic approach of

Sunk Cost Fallacy — What Is It?

Sunk Cost Fallacy — What Is It?

The sunk cost fallacy is a cognitive bias where a person insists on pursuing something that is clearly not paying off simply because the person has already spent so much time and resources into that pursuit. This fallacy can be seen everywhere in one’s life. Perhaps, we want to

Second-Order Thinking

Second-Order Thinking

Second-order thinking is one of the mental models for improved decision-making. This framework refers to the practice of thinking of thinking beyond direct and immediate consequences of our decisions or actions. It involves a consideration for the possible second-order repercussions or effects of our actions. In other words, it prompts

Inversion: A Framework To Improve Decision-Making

Inversion: A Framework To Improve Decision-Making

One of the mental models that can improve one’s decision-making is the inversion framework. As a mental model, inversion refers to a framework of thinking about problems in reverse. That is, it encourages considering what would happen (or the counterfactual), if we did the opposite of what we are

Socratic Questioning: A Powerful Technique to Improve Our Understanding

Socratic Questioning: A Powerful Technique to Improve Our Understanding

One of the techniques that can improve one’s critical thinking is Socratic questioning. This technique refers to is a method of inquiry that employs a series of questions to improve the clarity of thoughts, ideas, and beliefs. As the name implies, the technique was named after Socrates, the ancient

First Principles Thinking

First Principles Thinking

One of the strongest framework or mental model is first principles. Generally speaking, first principles thinking allows for one to break down the difficult and complicated task or issue into smaller and more fundamental units. As Shane Parrish argues in his book on mental models, first principles thinking identifies the

Circle of Competence

Circle of Competence

In one of his volumes on mental models, Shane Parrish introduces the idea of a circle of competence. This may refer to areas where you are knowledge and skilled. But how do you build and maintain a circle of competence? Keep learning and updating your knowledge. The author makes it

Mental Models — Why They Are Important (Part 1)

Mental Models — Why They Are Important (Part 1)

The Great Mental Models (Volume 1: General Thinking Concepts) is a great book by Shane Parrish and Rhiannon Beaubien. In the words the authors, Mental models “are how we understand the world. Not only do they shape what we think and how we understand but they shape the connections and