Cognitive Scaffold

Preparing your thinking workspace

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MENTAL MODEL · M1439

Idea Laundering

Idea Laundering
StructureHigh supportCritical Thinking
Included
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

Passing off a biased or ideological viewpoint as an objective scientific fact through a series of complex academic jargon, citation loops, or peer-review packaging.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Critical reading. When seeing 'research shows', trace back through the 'laundering chain'. Often, the source is just one person's bias, packaged layer by layer into truth.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

Opinion laundering: passing off a problematic source as credible through layers of intermediaries, whitening its origin.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Practice this model in one real situation:

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Source support: Explicit

  • link
    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_launderingZH · Explicit
    verified

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