31. People Create Mental Models

31. People Create Mental Models

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• Caption: Image courtesy of: https://medium.com/@SaurabhVAgarwal/how-our-mental-models-can-screw-our-relationships-35fd6a0ac080

What is a Mental Model?

• A mental model is a person's understanding of how someting works based on their past experiences, perceptions, what other people have told them, etc.
• Mental models are what people use to assist with figuring out problems that are placed before them.
• With regards to design, a mental model applies to the representation of something, be it an object, an idea, etc.
• Mental models have the ability to change as peoples' knowledge and experiences change.
• Understanding the mental models for your target audience is a critical component to successful design.