Cognitive Scaffold

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MENTAL MODEL · M7189

Drive Fish into Deep Pools

Drive Fish into Deep Pools
CulturemediumChinese Philosophy
Included
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Updated 2026-08-10

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INTRODUCTION

English translation pending.

CORE DEFINITION

An image from Mencius in which the otter that hunts fish drives them into the deep pools and the hawk that hunts birds drives them into the thick woods, so the predator's own action gives the prey safety. Its core proposition is that harsh treatment, arrogant pricing, or oppressive policy does not eliminate the other party but pushes it toward your competitor, so a firm can supply its rival with customers through its own conduct. The qualifier is that the damage is self-inflicted rather than imposed by the rival.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

- Honest self-audit: check whether your own conduct is quietly driving potential allies and customers away. - Destination check: identify which rival is receiving the very people that you push out. - Course change: adjust the terms of the relationship so that it attracts rather than repels them.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

A party that would have cooperated stays loyal only while the cost of doing so remains acceptable. When treatment becomes harsh enough, the same party is pushed toward the alternative, and the rival gains a customer, an employee, or an ally without spending anything, so the aggressive move strengthens the competition it was meant to weaken.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Source support: Explicit

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    zdic.nethttps://zdic.net/hans/%E4%B8%BA%E6%B8%8A%E9%A9%B1%E9%B1%BCZH · Explicit
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