Mental models and human reasoning

Link to Journal Article Here

Who it’s for: Learners that have some familiarity with rules of logic who are looking for an introduction to mental models.

Why we love it: This paper, written by the developer of the mental model theory Dr. Phillip Johnson-Laird, provides a thorough yet accessible introduction to mental models and human reasoning. The article begins by providing an overview of the traditional logic-based model of human reasoning before contrasting it with the more recent paradigm of mental models. The article provides applied examples of mental models in action, discusses the strengths and pitfalls of human reasoning with strategies and counterexamples, and overviews the implications of this model of rationality. A perfect introductory paper to the mental model theory!

Citation: Johnson-Laird, P. N. (2010). Mental models and human reasoning. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107(43), 18243–18250. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1012933107