Cognitive Scaffold

Preparing your thinking workspace

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MENTAL MODEL · M1391

Habitus

Habitus
BusinessHigh supportEconomics
Included
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

A set of embodied dispositions, ways of thinking, and behavioral habits internalized by individuals through long-term social environments (such as class and family). It operates automatically like a second nature, without conscious thought (e.g., the confident posture of the wealthy when walking, the unease of the poor in expensive restaurants).

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

- Class identification: A person can become rich overnight (changing economic capital), but it is difficult to change 'habitus' in the short term. Habitus is a deeper class imprint than education and wealth.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

Bourdieu proposed that individuals internalize a system of dispositions through long-term socialization, making behavior appear natural but shaped by structure. The mechanism is that structure is embodied and generates practice.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Practice this model in one real situation:

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Source support: Explicit

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