Cognitive Scaffold

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MENTAL MODEL · M2349

Emotional Bank Account

Emotional Bank Account
BehaviorHigh supportSocial Psychology
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-31

CORE DEFINITION

Interpersonal relationships are like bank accounts.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Interpersonal relationships are like bank accounts

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

Covey proposed that relationships are like accounts: kind actions are deposits, hurts are withdrawals, and the balance determines trust and tolerance. The mechanism is that the cumulative effect of interactions determines relationship resilience.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Source support: Explicit

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    eqi.orghttps://www.eqi.org/eqi.org/eqi.org/eba.htmZH · Explicit
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Johari Window

Proposed by psychologists Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham, it divides information in interpersonal interactions into four areas: Open Area (known to self/known to others), Blind Spot (unknown to self/known to others), Hidden Area (known to self/unknown to others), and Unknown Area (unknown to self/unknown to others).

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Sayre's Law

Sayre’s law is a satirical adage about emotional intensity being disproportionate to the stakes, sometimes especially over small matters.

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Negging

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