Examining mental models

Mental models are the explanations and pictures we construct in our heads to make sense of the world. The parable of the blind men and the elephant illustrates how our mental models influence our conclusions -- the man touching the tail thinks an elephant is like a rope, while the man touching the tusk believes an elephant is more like a spear, and the man touching the trunk concludes an elephant is like a snake. We disagree better when we can detect our blind spots, examine our assumptions, and interpret our experience through multiple lenses.