Cognitive Scaffold

Preparing your thinking workspace

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MENTAL MODEL · M6720

NLP

NLP
Learn & MetacognitionHigh supportCognitive Science
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

Robert Dilts' six-level cognitive structure (from bottom to top): - Environment: external conditions - Behavior: specific actions - Capability: skills and strategies - Beliefs/Values: judgments of importance - Identity: self-definition - Vision/Mission: meaning beyond the individual. Scaffolding role: locating the level of change. Problems and solutions often are not at the same level; intervention from a higher level can produce fundamental change.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Locate the level of change. Problems and solutions often are not at the same level; intervention from a higher level can produce fundamental change.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

The six levels (Environment → Behavior → Capability → Beliefs/Values → Identity → Vision) increase in abstraction from bottom to top. Low-level problems are often repeatedly addressed with low-level means, but if the root cause is at a higher level (such as identity or beliefs), only intervention at that corresponding level can cure it. High-level changes will 'permeate' downward to affect lower levels.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Source support: Explicit

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