Mental Models & Identity LO20897

koebelin (koebelin@cwix.com)
Tue, 16 Mar 1999 12:29:58 -0800

Replying to LO20883 --

Matt Rawlins said:

> I need a little wisdom. I am finishing my thesis for my Ph. D and I need
> some references for material that will link beliefs (mental
> model/schema/paradigm) with a person's sense of their own identity. I am
> arguing (minor point) that changing beliefs also requires, to some
> degree,
> a change or at least an awareness of one's identity. Does anybody have
> any
> research that will point me in the right direction?

I find this to be a very interesting question. My background is in
community service learning, and I have discussed and spoken extensively on
"community" which comes from our "common unity" and which speaks to
affiliation. Mentally, I have linked our need for affiliation with both
our identity and our values.

Increasingly, we are identiying ourselves with our causes, or groups that
we belong to and support. I think that we still suffer from the lack of
connection between our stated values and our real lives--our theory-in-use
does not equate with our stated values. For example, I think that the
elderly are important to society and have a contribution to make, yet I
spend almost no time with the elderly. How does my life experience
reflect my values? What I believe people need in our society is an
opportunity to live their values, an opportunity to serve.

I am reminded of Steven Covey's "Principle-Centered Leadership."

-- 

koebelin <koebelin@cwix.com>

Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>