Cognitive Scaffold

Preparing your thinking workspace

arrow_back_ios_new
MENTAL MODEL · M1922

Anguish / Ao Nong

Anguish / Ao Nong
BehaviorHigh supportOrganizational Behavior
Included
account_tree

Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

A state of extreme, indescribable discomfort characterized by inner turmoil and restlessness. In Chinese medicine, it refers to a feeling of vexation and agitation in the chest, often due to invisible pathogenic heat lingering in the chest and diaphragm (as in the syndrome treated by Zhizi Chi Decoction). The patient cannot pinpoint the pain but feels as if thousands of ants are crawling inside, unable to sit or lie still, with a sensation of wanting to vomit but unable to. This is caused by heat pathogen stagnating in the chest and diaphragm, without substantial pathological changes, yet the energy field is extremely chaotic.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

A metaphor for the restless heat and agitation within the chest. The patient cannot specify where it hurts, only feels as if thousands of ants are crawling inside, restless and unable to settle, with a sensation of wanting to vomit but unable to. This indicates heat pathogen depressed in the chest and diaphragm; although there is no substantial lesion, the energy field is extremely disordered.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

A term in Chinese medicine for emotions and syndromes, referring to vexation, remorse, and inner turmoil (Ao Nong). The mechanism involves emotional stagnation and internal heat disturbing the mind.

MINIMUM ACTION

In progress 0/1

Practice this model in one real situation:

Check to track your progress (stored locally)
Learning progress0%
account_treeGenealogyexpand_more
menu_bookReferencesexpand_more

Source support: Explicit

RELATED MODELS

Related model

Two-Factor Theory

The two-factor theory (also known as motivation–hygiene theory, motivator–hygiene theory, and dual-factor theory) states that there are certain factors in the workplace that cause job satisfaction while a separate set of factors cause dissatisfaction, all of which act independently of each other. It…

arrow_forwardRelated model

Glass Walls

Distinct from the 'glass ceiling' (vertical promotion barrier), it refers to women or minority groups being isolated in certain functional departments (e.g., HR, administration), making it difficult to move laterally to core business departments (e.g., sales, R&D), thereby lacking the key experience needed for promotion.

arrow_forwardRelated model

Inertia

Inertia is the natural tendency of objects in motion to stay in motion and objects at rest to stay at rest, unless a force causes its velocity to change. It is one of the fundamental principles in classical physics, and is described by Isaac Newton in his first law of motion (also known as The Principle of Inertia). It is one of the primary manifestations of mass, one of the core quantitative properties of physical systems.

arrow_forward