Cognitive Scaffold

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MENTAL MODEL · M11269

Overcorrection

Overcorrection
CultureHigh supportChinese History and Classics
Included
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

To straighten something bent, one must bend it in the opposite direction beyond the straight line to restore it to proper alignment.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Change strategy. When correcting deeply ingrained bad habits (such as bureaucracy), gentle improvement is ineffective. It is necessary to take extreme, even unreasonable reverse measures (overcorrection) to finally return to the middle state.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

Systems have path dependence and inertia; gentle corrections are 'bounced back' by the original deviation. Applying excessive force in the opposite direction (beyond the target line) uses overshoot to counteract inertia, finally settling back to the middle path.

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Source support: Explicit

  • link
    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HypercorrectionZH · Explicit
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