MENTAL MODEL · M9312

Wishful Thinking Technique

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Updated 2026-09-10

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INTRODUCTION

English translation pending.

CORE DEFINITION

The wishful thinking technique lists all the hopes and expectations a person holds for an object, with no restriction imposed, and then filters the list for what is feasible. Its model is to make the desire explicit: set feasibility aside for a moment, release the real requirement, and then work backward to the solution that would satisfy it. It starts from aspiration instead of defect, which is what separates it from the fault-listing method.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

- Suspend the feasibility: let the wishes be stated before anyone judges them. - List every hope: get the real requirement out where it can be seen. - Walk back to a path: for each wish, find the method that would deliver it.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

Feasibility editing runs before the desire is fully stated, which kills the requirement that would have led to the novel solution. Listing first collects the unedited wants, and each one becomes a design question with a discoverable answer, so innovation starts from the aspiration rather than from the complaint.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Practice this model in one real situation:

Choose the specific object you want to improve. 2. Brainstorm a list of I wish it could statements without filtering. 3. For each wish, chase the technique or method that could deliver it. 4. Filter for the wishes with real value and a workable path. 5. Turn the surviving ones into concrete improvement plans.

Check to track your progress (stored locally)

Learning progress0%

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Source support: Explicit

link
wiki.mbalib.comhttps://wiki.mbalib.com/wiki/%E5%B8%8C%E6%9C%9B%E7%82%B9%E5%88%97%E4%B8%BE%E6%B3%95ZH · Explicit
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