Mental Models for the Perceptions - Essay Example

?How can your mental models about your world both assist and limit your perceptions when you meet a person for the first time? Every person has his/her own, inner perspective of the world, with strongly embedded beliefs. People will behave, act, and decide based on their actual mental model that they possess at a subconscious level, not based on the theories or facts which they accept as true. Peter Senge, in his work entitled The Fifth Discipline, defines mental models as “deeply held internal images of how the world really works” (Kaufman et al., 2003, p. 7). These mental models, which can take the form of either complicated theories or plain assumptions, have a great influence on a person’s perception of others. Basically, these mental models are ideas and beliefs that people instinctively or intentionally acquires from their experiences and which consequently influence their behavior and mindset (Uitdewilligen, Waller, & Pitariu, 2013). These images of recognized reality inform individuals of cause and effect, and push them to predict specific outcomes, interpret occurrences, and prompt them to act in specific ways. However, mental models can be both an advantage and a disadvantage, particularly with regard to perceiving other people. This essay discusses how mental models both assist and limit an individual’s perception of people they will meet for the first time. Individuals all have assumptions about other people. These assumptions guide individuals in a variety of ways. They assist individuals in anticipating and interpreting the behavior of other people. Assumptions about others are also helpful when an individual has to give a description of another person. Yet, the main importance of a mental model is its capacity to help individuals conduct their interactions with other people (Young, 2011). People’s assumptions about other people have significant impact in their daily lives. When person A meets person B for the first time, person A instantly begins to have a first impression of person B. This impression can be reinforced or weakened by person A’s mental models. But similar to other mental processes, mental models have both favorable and unfavorable attributes. A mental model may help person A make a quick assessment and judgment of person B. In the real world, people obviously do not have the luxury of time to get to know all the people they meet personally. According to Senge (2010), mental models help individuals make decisions and anticipate how other people will act in specific circumstances instantly. The usefulness of mental models becomes pronounced in a culturally diverse organization (Matteson, 2013). For instance, a senior executive in a multinational company is urgently looking for a new project manager. The applicants come from different racial backgrounds, and the senior executive is assigned to interview each of these applicants. He is meeting all these applicants for the first time. His mental models of various racial groups will definitely influence his choice. These mental models will guide his decision of who to hire for the position of project manager. Mental models are valuable tools in unfamiliar situations and circumstances requiring quick decisions. These mental models can also be useful in instances where an individual will be meeting another person from a different culture. These mental models may guide an individual’s behavior or attitude toward another person. Having an assumption of one’s culture helps create a meaningful and respectful interaction between individuals of different cultures (Lundquist & Jarvella, 2000); for instance, if person A, an Australian, will meet person B, a Japanese, for the first time it would be helpful if person A assumes that Japanese, unlike Australians, are not straightforward people. This assumption will help person A conduct a harmonious, polite conversation with person B. Even in business negotiations, mental models of individual characteristics and culture may help resolve conflict and make personal and cultural differences productive. In essence, it is vital to move these mental models into the conscious plane. If not, these mental models could be limiting, and wrong beliefs about people and the world may continue unchecked. Thus, whenever possible people should reflect on their mental models ahead of their circumstances to assist in framing them for other people. Frames are defined as the “ways in which we communicate our interpretations of the meaning of events, situations, and incidents” (Kaufman et al., 2003, p. 8). Mental models are indeed very powerful but, usually, people are not aware or conscious of the mental models they have and the great impact they have on their actions. Mental models may result in inaccuracies and stereotyping (Held, Vosgerau, & Knauff, 2006). For instance, person A is meeting two people for the first time, person B and person C. Person B is a kind-looking old woman, whereas person C is a dour-looking man. Person A chooses to go with person B based on his/her mental model of elderly people—they are harmless. Unfortunately, person B is a nifty thief. Due to these mental models, person A was robbed of his/her valuables. Although mental models can be very helpful every now and then, it can also result in wrong decisions or misjudgments. The disadvantage of applying mental models to the decision-making process or using them for making judgments about unfamiliar people is that it could be totally erroneous and imprudent, causing one to behave improperly or insult someone. It is quite naive or stereotypical to think that social or racial groups share similar personality attributes and standards merely because they belong to the same group (McIntyre & Foti, 2013). This is a kind of prejudice and can be upsetting for the individual who is being discriminated, who may feel that s/he is misinterpreted, especially when a mental model is racially charged. Negative mental models do exist. These negative images push individuals to create an unfavorable first impression of those people they are meeting for the first time. Such negative assumptions about people can result in conflict, which consequently can generate problems in organizations, at home, and in the community. In conclusion, mental models could be both useful and harmful. A social situation, such as meeting people for the first time, clearly demonstrates this aspect. An individual’s mental models may reinforce or weaken his/her first impression of another person. Thus, it is important for individuals to reevaluate their mental models from time to time in order to avoid unnecessary problems. A decision based on inaccurate mental models will definitely bring about unfavorable consequences. References Held, C., Vosgerau, G., & Knauff, M. (2006) Mental Models & the Mind: Current developments in Cognitive Psychology, Neuroscience and Philosophy of Mind. San Diego, CA: Elsevier. Kaufman, R. et al. (2003) Strategic Planning for Success: Aligning People, Performance, and Payoffs. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons. Lundquist, L. & Jarvella, R. (2000) Language, Text, and Knowledge: Mental Models of Expert Communication. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. Matteson, M. (2013) “Capturing shared mental models: An approach for bona fide groups”, Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 45(3). McIntyre, H. & Foti, R. (2013) “The impact of shared leadership on teamwork mental models and performance in self-directed teams”, Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 16(1), 46-57. Senge, P. (2010) The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of the Learning Organization. New York: Random House LLC. Uitdewilligen, S., Waller, M., & Pitariu, A. (2013) “Mental Model Updating and Team Adaptation”, Small Group Research, 44(2), 127-158. Young, I. (2011) Mental Models. New York: O’Reilly Media, Inc. Read More