Mental Model

Mental Model 2

I've been trying this post for days now... and every time is has turned out wrong.  Still, this is in the top 3 things I can actually teach on the internet, so I'm gonna give it a shot.

I talk, and will talk, extensively about Mental Models, but much of this talk will be covering specific models.  This time, though, I'm going to cover the mental model of Mental Models (all caps because it is the model in question).

So, what is a mental model? A mental model is a system of thinking about how the mind works.  Mental models have definitions to group mental functions, and they have axioms which one must believe for them to be successful.

The definition may be unclear, so let me give you a few examples of common models.

Religion is a mental model.  It has a system of rules which determine how individuals functions, and what they can and can't do.  An example function from religion is Prayer, and an example axiom is Prayer can change the world.  (Obviously not all religions include prayer, but I hope you won't mind me using the term.)

Here is another mental model, one which will point how similar definitions don't mean the same model.  Right and Wrong.  An example function is an action, which fits one category or another.  An example axiom is that actions can be justified (and thus made right).

Hopefully you get the concept, but now for an even harder example.  Mental model is a recursive definition.  That is to say, Mental Model is a mental model.  An example function is defining something, and an example axiom is that all psychology can be thought of as a mental model.  Since mental models are themselves psychology... you should get the idea.

There are various ways to order mental models.  First, that can be labeled by believed (at this moment) and not believed.  Another method is useful or not useful.  Another is easily believed (as in it doesn't conflict with other models you are using) and not easily believed.  And finally, complete or incomplete.  A complete model describes all possible thoughts/actions.  An incomplete model can't explain some mental actions.  There are an infinity of these models, so I tend to think only about those that are complete or close to it.

Now, how does this relate to hypnotism?  Well, this is a way of thinking about hypnotism itself.  If you don't believe in a mental model which allow hypnotism to effect you, it won't.  If you believe in a mental model which says hypnotism is difficult and take time, it will take time.

Of course, not all mental models are conscious.  Everyone's mind is made of mental models, stacked on top of each other, going down and down.  Sometimes the model which you want to study or change is too far down for you to understand or get at it.  Sometimes it is important to so many other models that you can't change it.  But everything you do, think, or believe is in there somewhere, built into that stack.

Hypnosis is a method of quickly building another mental model very quickly.  It asks that you believe someone else and allow them to lay out the model in your head.  As long as you let it stay there, the effects stay.  If it conflict with to many others, it will break when placed on them.  And if you don't believe you have somewhere it can sit, it will never enter your mind in the first place.

Mental models are a complete mental model, and one I find useful.  I hope you can apply them usefully yourself.