mind-models
An open standard for documenting psychological models, cognitive frameworks, and behavioral patterns — in a structured, machine-readable, human-friendly format.
What is mind-models?
A growing library of psychological models written in structured Markdown. Each model is a self-contained file describing:
- What the model is and where it comes from
- How it works (triggers, mechanisms, stages)
- Real-world examples
- How it connects to other models
- How to apply or counter it
Think of it as an RFC for the human mind — a reference spec anyone can use, extend, or implement.
Categories
| Category | Description | Models |
|---|---|---|
| cognitive | Mental shortcuts, perception, memory, reasoning | 8 |
| behavioral | Habits, conditioning, reward systems, motivation | 6 |
| social | Influence, conformity, group dynamics, trust | 6 |
| emotional | Emotion regulation, affect, mood patterns | 4 |
| decision | Decision-making frameworks, heuristics, biases | 6 |
| developmental | Growth stages, learning models, identity | 4 |
Quick Example
# Cognitive Dissonance
**Category:** cognitive
**Origin:** Leon Festinger, 1957
**Tags:** belief, conflict, rationalization
→ See full model
Schema
Every model follows the model schema. This makes models consistent, parseable, and interoperable.
Use Cases
- Build AI agents that understand human psychology
- Train models on behavioral patterns
- Design better UX, products, or teams
- Study and teach psychology systematically
- Extend with your own models via PR
Contributing
See CONTRIBUTING.md. All models must follow the schema.
Roadmap
See ROADMAP.md.
License
MIT — free to use, extend, and build on.