Two Driving Forces in Depth: Mental Models and Team Learning

Abstract

Mental models: If you do not understand somebody, or you think they are acting irrationally, you may safely assume that their behaviour is perfectly logical to them but that you have not yet discovered their inner logic; their ‘mental model’. Mental models are the lenses through which we see the world and interpret that reality. Groupthink: In situations of great uncertainty and pressure, individuals start to say what they think the others might think. People will not question whether or not an intervention was well supported with data but will react emotionally. “Will I still belong to the group?” or “What will my department look like in that situation?” Posing critical questions may seem very rational but is often an attack or survival reaction on a subconscious level. People are taken hostage by these emotional or survival reflexes without even realising it.