mental-model-toolkit

name	mental-model-toolkit
description	Use when someone is stuck on a problem and needs a different frame entirely, suspects they have blind spots, or has exhausted obvious solutions. Three instruments: choose the right mental model, systematically surface unknown unknowns, and break...
scenarios	["I've tried everything obvious — what am I missing?","Help me find blind spots in this plan","Give me a completely different frame for this problem","뻔한 해결책 말고 다른 관점으로 접근해줘","이 계획에서 내가 놓치고 있는 게 뭘까?","이 문제를 다른 방식으로 볼 수 있어?"]
compatibility	{"recommended":["think-tool"],"optional":["sequential-thinking","mcp-reasoner"],"remote_mcp_note":"think-tool이 있으면 어떤 도구(mental model·unknown unknowns·lateral thinking)가 이 문제에 맞는지 정확히 진단할 수 있습니다. mcp-reasoner는 lateral thinking 단계에서 다중 경로 탐색에 유용합니다. Claude 설정 → MCP Servers에서 remote SSE 엔드포인트를 추가하세요."}

Mental Model Toolkit

When to Use / When Not to Use

Use when:

• All obvious solutions have been tried and the problem persists
• A plan is being finalized and needs stress-testing for hidden risks
• A fresh frame would unlock options not visible from the current angle

Not for:

• Mapping downstream consequences (use second-order-thinker)
• Auditing specific assumptions (use assumption-extractor)

Process

Diagnose which instrument fits before applying:

Situation	Instrument
Standard problem, want rigorous framing	Mental model library
Confident in plan, want stress-test	Unknown unknowns mapper
Stuck, obvious solutions tried	Lateral thinking prompter
Surprised by outcome, diagnosing cause	Map vs territory + perspective grid

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Instrument 1 — Mental Model Library

Key models: First Principles Thinking, Inversion, Map vs Territory, Occam's Razor, Second-Order Thinking, Pareto (80/20), Regret Minimization, Chesterton's Fence.

Full catalog: see references/mental-models-catalog.md

Apply the model that fits the problem — not the one you already know best. Use the model to actually derive something, not as decoration.

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Instrument 2 — Unknown Unknowns Mapper

You cannot observe blind spots directly. Create conditions where they become visible.

• Pre-mortem: Imagine it's 12 months out and this failed spectacularly. What happened? Generate 5+ failure modes.
• Red teaming: Argue the case against the plan without defending it.
• Outsider perspective: Explain to someone unfamiliar — their confusion points to unexamined assumptions.
• Assumption audit: List every assumption; rate confidence (0–100%) and impact if wrong.
• Perspective expansion: Inhabit each viewpoint (user, skeptic, future self, opposite worldview, most harmed).

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Instrument 3 — Lateral Thinking Prompter

Techniques: Random Entry, Provocation (Po), Reversal, Analogical Thinking, Constraint Removal.

Full reference: see references/lateral-thinking-techniques.md

MCP note: If mcp-reasoner is available, use it here — lateral thinking requires multi-path exploration before selecting the best creative approach.

Output Template

1. Diagnosis — which instrument fits and why
2. Application — work through the chosen technique with the specific problem
3. Outputs — new frames, blind spots surfaced, lateral options generated
4. Most valuable insight — what was not visible before this analysis
5. Next move — one concrete action this unlocks

What Claude Does / What You Do

Claude	You
Selects the right instrument based on the problem type	Provide the stuck problem or plan
Applies techniques to your specific situation (not abstractly)	Confirm whether the new frame resonates
Names blind spots and new perspectives explicitly	Decide which insight changes how you act
Generates lateral options as starting points for evaluation	Evaluate and build on those options

Related Skills

• second-order-thinker — for consequence chains once a new frame is chosen
• assumption-extractor — for systematic assumption auditing
• tradeoff-articulator — for mapping costs when multiple options emerge