Several of these are not exactly what I would consider mental models, more life hacks or bias training. For me a mental model is a framework or paradigm that yo

Several of these are not exactly what I would consider mental models, more life hacks or bias training. For me a mental model is a framework or paradigm that you use to make sense of the world around you. It isn't always for making decisions, perhaps it's to avoid anxiety or even to figure out how to live at peace with your alt-right neighbor. Some of mine are: 1. Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by incompetence. The modern world is an unbelievably complex network of individuals and incentives. Rarely can you trace a discernible pattern beyond two interactions. So if the level of complexity in your conspiracy theory requires more than two jumps it's likely unfounded. Cartels are unstable. 2. Human beings are hard wired to rationalize their worldview instead of picking a rational worldview. A trait of ours is that we're capable of making a logically consistent argument to validate anything and this is not a new phenomenon. The ancients were just as capable at this as we are today.