Cognitive Scaffold

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MENTAL MODEL · M6318

Illusion of Transparency

Illusion of Transparency
BehaviorHigh supportSocial Psychology
Included
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

We overestimate the ability of others to read our internal states. When giving a speech, you may feel visibly nervous, but the audience sees you as calm; when lying, you feel your face gives it away, but others cannot tell.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Confident disguise. When you are nervous or lying, tell yourself 'they can't tell.' This belief itself can calm you down through biofeedback, making it true that they can't tell.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

People overestimate the degree to which their internal states are transparent to others (assuming emotions and intentions are obvious).

MINIMUM ACTION

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Source support: Explicit

  • link
    zh.wikipedia.orghttps://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%80%8F%E6%98%8E%E5%BA%A6%E9%94%99%E8%A7%89ZH · Explicit
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