Cognitive Scaffold

Preparing your thinking workspace

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MENTAL MODEL · M7762

Shut the Door to Catch the Thief

Shut the Door to Catch the Thief
BusinessHigh supportStrategic Management
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

For a weak enemy, surround and annihilate them, leaving no chance to escape. First cut off their retreat, then launch an attack.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Encirclement strategy. Ensure to cut off the opponent's escape routes before acting.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

For a weak opponent intending to escape, if a frontal assault is costly and they may easily get away, first cut off their retreat (resources, channels, allies), then besiege and annihilate them at leisure. The mechanism is "cut off escape options → increase capture certainty."

MINIMUM ACTION

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Source support: Explicit

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    zh.wikipedia.orghttps://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%97%9C%E9%96%80%E6%8D%89%E8%B3%8AZH · Explicit
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