Hi Reader

Welcome to this edition of the Better Thinking Newsletter.

In our last newsletter, we explored the concept of mental models and their impact on our daily lives.

Today, we’re diving deeper into how these models shape our perception of reality itself. In my own effort to learn how I could think better in everyday situations, I realised how vital it is to notice them in myself and others, and how closely related they are to the decisions and actions we choose.

The Map is Not the Territory

This famous phrase, coined by Alfred Korzybski, reminds us that our mental representations (the map) are not reality itself (the territory). They are simplifications, and like any model, they have limitations. As with our mental model of a grocery store, if we cling to it as “the truth" in all situations, we will eventually run into the reality of a world where our map does not work.

Aldi stores are a great example of this, providing you can adapt your mental model to the new reality, you might find this layout more appealing.

However, for some people it creates a mental barrier too great to overcome.

But mental models are only one aspect that we need to consider on the journey to better thinking. To understand the role they play we need to zoom in a little further.

Unveiling the Hidden Drivers of Events

Imagine an iceberg floating in the ocean. What we see above the surface is just a small part of its entirety. This metaphor perfectly illustrates how events in our lives are merely the tip of a much larger, unseen structure.

At the very bottom of this iceberg lie mental models - our deeply ingrained assumptions and beliefs about how the world works. These models shape our perception and decision-making processes, often without our conscious awareness. They're the foundation upon which we build our understanding of reality.

Rising from these mental models is the structure - the systems and processes we create based on our underlying beliefs. This structure, in turn, generates patterns of behaviour and recurring situations in our lives and organisations. Finally, at the surface, we have events - the visible occurrences that we typically react to in our day-to-day lives. These events are the manifestation of the entire system below, rooted in our mental models.

The challenge is that most people spend their time and energy reacting to these surface-level events, without delving deeper to understand the underlying causes. It's like constantly mopping up water on the floor without investigating the leaky pipe causing the problem.

Consider a simple example: A person who consistently overspends might focus on the event (running out of money) or the pattern (overspending). They might try quick fixes like cutting back for a month or using a budgeting app. However, the real solution lies in examining their mental models about money, success, and self-worth.

Perhaps they believe that spending lavishly is a sign of success, or that they deserve immediate gratification. By recognising and adjusting these underlying beliefs, they can create lasting change in their financial behaviour.

By understanding the iceberg model, we can shift our focus from merely reacting to events to examining and reshaping the mental models that drive them. This approach allows us to create more effective, long-term solutions to complex problems, both in our personal lives and in broader societal issues.

My Journey with Mental Models and the Iceberg Metaphor

Let me share a personal story that illustrates how mental models fit into the iceberg metaphor of systems thinking. It's a tale of how I overcame a harmful habit by diving beneath the surface of my own behaviour.

In my younger days, I struggled with alcohol. What was visible to everyone, including myself, was the act of drinking - the event at the tip of the iceberg. Below that were patterns: my consistent giving in to peer pressure and regular alcohol consumption despite negative consequences.

Deeper still was the structure: the social environments I frequented where drinking was expected, even encouraged. These situations reinforced my drinking behaviour, creating a cycle that seemed impossible to break.

But at the very bottom of the iceberg, hidden from view, lay my mental model - the belief that I needed to drink to fit in, that alcohol was somehow tied to social acceptance.

Initially, I focused solely on the events - trying to stop drinking. But these efforts were short-lived because I wasn't addressing the underlying issue. The real transformation began when I identified the problem at its core: my mental model about fitting in.

It took a life changing event to create enough pain for me to remove myself from situations where I felt pressured to drink. This structural change helped break the pattern of drinking. But the most significant shift came when I realised why I was drinking - my deep-seated belief about needing alcohol to be socially accepted.

Challenging core beliefs transforms lives.

By reshaping my mental model about alcohol and social acceptance, I've maintained sobriety for 30 years. This deep dive into my personal iceberg - addressing underlying causes, not just surface events - proved more effective than battling urges or moderating consumption. It's a powerful approach: by understanding and changing our mental models, we can navigate life's challenges with newfound clarity and purpose, creating lasting positive change.

Quick Pulse Check 💓

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​ Michael Collins Cyber Cognition

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