Question

Anika Sharma, how did you cite Richard Heuer idea of mental models in the Psychology of Intelligence Analysis?

Answer 1

Mental models act as a medium for all the individuals who assimilate and evaluate information, these are experienced based constructs of assumptions and expectations both about the world in general and more specific domains. These constructs strongly influence data that are in accordance with analysts unconscious mental models are more likely to be perceived and remembered than information which is odds with them.

Mental models are critical to allowing individuals to process what otherwise would be an incomprehensible volume of information. It can make analysts to overlook, reject or forget important incoming or missing information that is not in accordance with the expectations and assumptions.

Seasoned analysts will be more susceptible to the mind set problems as a result of their expertise and and past success in using time tested mental models.

The key risk of mind-set also called mental models are the analysts always perceive what they wanted to perceive once it is formed they will not change that is they are resistant to change, new information will be assimilated sometimes with so much of errors in to the already existing mental models and conflicting information will be ignored or often dismissed.

These technique will help the analysts to deal with the perennial problems intelligence, incomplete and ambiguous information and inherent limitations of human mind.