Have you ever wondered why you do what you do? Why you keep repeating certain behaviours, even when they no longer produce the results you expect?
Sometimes we act according to ideas, beliefs or ways of thinking that we have built up over time and rarely stop to question. Some may continue to serve us well; others may limit the possibilities we are able to see.
In this article, we look at what mental models are, how they can shape the way we interpret situations and what we can do to reconsider them when they are no longer useful.
The Story of the Monkeys: A Metaphor About What We Learn
There is a well-known story about five monkeys in a cage with a bunch of bananas at the top of a ladder. Whenever one monkey tries to climb the ladder, the others are sprayed with cold water.
Before long, the monkeys begin attacking any monkey that tries to climb the ladder.
Then, one by one, the original monkeys are replaced. The newcomers, despite never having experienced the cold water themselves, eventually join the others in attacking any monkey that approaches the ladder.
Why do they behave this way?
According to the story, they have learnt to repeat a behaviour without understanding why it began.
This story is often presented as though it were a scientific experiment, but there is no solid evidence that this particular scenario was ever conducted as described. It is more useful to understand it as a parable about how behaviours can be learnt and repeated even when we no longer understand their origin.
What Is a Mental Model and How Can It Shape Our Lives?
A mental model can be understood as a framework of ideas, beliefs or assumptions through which we interpret a situation.
That framework can shape:
- what we consider possible or impossible
- how we interpret our experiences
- the alternatives we are able to identify
- the decisions we make — or choose not to make
Our mental models develop through our experiences, learning, environment and culture.
They are not necessarily negative. In fact, many of them help us make sense of our experiences and find our way in the world.
The difficulty arises when an idea becomes so fixed that we stop questioning it, even when circumstances have changed.
Signs That It May Be Time to Reconsider a Belief
It may be useful to pause and examine our thinking when:
- we repeatedly tell ourselves, "That's just the way I am", "It's always been this way" or "Things can't change"
- we respond in the same way to different situations without considering whether another response might be possible
- we reject new ideas simply because they are different from what we already know
- a particular way of thinking prevents us from attempting something we consider important
These signs do not necessarily mean that we have a "limiting belief". Rather, they offer a chance to stop and ask whether our usual way of thinking is still appropriate.
Why Can It Be Difficult to Question What We Have Learnt?
There are several reasons why reconsidering our beliefs can be difficult:
- The familiar feels comfortable: We naturally draw on experiences and ways of acting that we already know.
- Our environment shapes us: Expectations from family, friends, school and society can reinforce particular ways of thinking.
- We may be afraid of being wrong: Changing our mind can sometimes make us feel uncertain or exposed.
- We may not know what the alternatives are: It is difficult to question a way of doing something if we have never had the chance to experience another.
Changing the way we think, therefore, is not simply a matter of deciding to think differently.
It can also require us to observe, learn, try alternatives and reflect on the results.
Critical Thinking: Learning to Think Differently
Critical thinking is a valuable tool for examining our assumptions. It does not mean distrusting everything or automatically rejecting what we have learnt.
It means learning to:
- observe our own beliefs and assumptions
- ask where a particular idea came from
- look for information and consider different perspectives
- distinguish between what we know, what we believe and what we are assuming
- be willing to change our mind when we find good reasons or evidence for doing so
Thinking for yourself does not mean thinking alone. It also involves knowing how to listen, ask questions and learn from other people.
How to Reconsider a Mental Model in 7 Steps
This process can help you examine a belief or way of acting that no longer seems useful.
1. Identify the Idea You Keep Repeating Without Questioning
Ask yourself what you are taking for granted.
2. Consider Where It Came From
When did you learn this idea? Who or what shaped it?
3. Question It
Does it still apply? In what situations does it help you, and in what situations might it limit you?
4. Look for Other Perspectives
Ask how someone else might interpret the same situation.
5. Consider an Alternative
Rather than immediately replacing one "truth" with another, think about another possible way of understanding or approaching the situation.
6. Start With a Small Action
Try responding differently and observe what happens.
7. Reflect and Adjust
Not every change will work the first time. Learn from the experience and adjust your approach when necessary.
Create a New Story: Learn to Choose More Consciously
Reconsidering our beliefs does not mean rejecting everything we have learnt.
It means regaining the ability to ask why we do something and whether there might be another way to do it.
Change can begin with one simple question:
"Is there another way of seeing or approaching this situation?"
Sometimes that question is enough to reveal a possibility we had not previously considered.
Mental Models, Education and Parenting
This process also has a place in education.
Children develop many ideas about themselves and the world through what they hear, observe and experience.
Statements such as "I'm not good at maths", "I can't do it" or "I always get it wrong" can gradually become habitual ways of interpreting their own abilities.
Adults can help children develop a more flexible perspective without denying the difficulties they are experiencing.
Instead of immediately accepting a conclusion as final, we can help them ask:
"What could we try?"
"Which part can't we do yet?"
"What could we do differently?"
Learning to question a conclusion, try an alternative and try again can contribute to the development of independence and a child's ability to respond to difficulties.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Mental Model, in Simple Terms?
A mental model is a set of ideas, beliefs or assumptions that we use to interpret a situation and guide the way we act.
Why Is It Worth Reconsidering Our Ways of Thinking?
Some beliefs may become less useful as circumstances change.
Reconsidering them allows us to look at other perspectives and make more conscious decisions rather than automatically repeating familiar ways of thinking or acting.
Are All Mental Models Negative?
No. Mental models can help us organise our experiences and make sense of the world.
What matters is keeping the ability to reconsider them when circumstances change, new information becomes available or they no longer serve us well.
At What Age Can We Teach Children to Question Their Thinking?
From an early age, children can gradually learn to ask questions, consider different possibilities, recognise mistakes and try new ways of solving problems.
How they do this will naturally develop according to their age and stage of development.
Conclusion: Dare to Think for Yourself
We all learn ideas and ways of acting from the world around us. Some help us move forward; others may limit the possibilities we see if we never stop to reconsider them.
Thinking for yourself does not mean rejecting what you have learnt. It means being willing to ask, listen, analyse and change when you find good reasons to do so.
For children, learning to question a conclusion, consider alternatives and try again can become a useful tool for developing independence and responding to new challenges.
Sometimes, the first step towards change is not finding a new answer, but daring to ask a different question.