Cognitive Scaffold

Preparing your thinking workspace

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MENTAL MODEL · M4922

Kleptoplasty

Kleptoplasty
TechnicalHigh supportBiology
Included
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

Some organisms (such as sea slugs) eat algae and, instead of digesting the chloroplasts, they "steal" them and keep them inside their bodies to perform photosynthesis.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Modular borrowing. You don't need to evolve all abilities (like photosynthesis) from scratch; you can "eat" those who have the ability or tools and turn them into your functional plugins. This is the ultimate biological metaphor for mergers and acquisitions and outsourcing.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

Refers to unauthorized copying or imitation of others' works or products (likely meaning piracy or counterfeiting). Infringement of intellectual property rights.

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/KleptoplastyZH · Explicit
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