Kennon-Green & Co. Global Asset Management, Wealth Management, and Investment Advisory

Mental Model by Joshua Kennon

Mental Model – Signaling Theory

One of the biggest mental model obsessions I’ve had for the past few years – so consuming that I rarely even mention it in public, and hardly ever on this site as I am still working on fully grasping the implications and mechanics – is something called signaling theory.  The gist of signaling theory is that at all times, in all situations, you are broadcasting aspects of your identity, beliefs, personality, and lifestyle to the people around you, often with significant social implications.  It exerts such a strong pull on civilization that I consider it second only to the social proof mental model in importance.  It interacts with other mental models so efficiently, it often goes unnoticed.

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3 Parent Biological Children

The Secret 3-Parent Biological Children Born In the United States Are Now Teenagers

With the public suddenly seeming to notice that three-parent biological children are now a scientific possibility, The Telegraph is reporting, “A group of 34 European politicians, including eight British MPs and peers, has signed a declaration attacking plans which will make the UK the first country in the world to permit the new IVF technique.” Here’s the…

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Ayds Diet Pills

How the Mere Association Mental Model Destroyed a Perfectly Good Diet Business

In the 1930’s and 1940’s, the Carlay Company in Chicago, Illinois developed a candy coated dietary suppressant called Ayds.  It sold the business to Campana Corporation.  Campana was then sold to Dow Chemical.  In the 1960’s, Dow sold the business to Purex and hired legendary Hollywood stars and other celebrities to endorse the product.  In…

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Otherkin Cat

Otherkin and Mental Models

A topic I’m studying now from a mental model perspective is that of “Otherkin”.  Don’t know what it is?  You aren’t alone.  It’s a sub-niche movement of people who believe – not pretend, but actually believe – they are partially, or entirely, non-human.  Some think that they have been reincarnated with the soul of an animal, dragon, fairy, plant, alien, cartoon, demon, angel, elf, vampire, etc.  Some believe they actually are partially these things biologically.

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Supersitious Religious Beliefs

The 7 Great Cult Beliefs That Have Arisen Throughout Human History

Warning: This is the working essay I promised to release earlier tonight.  It deals with certain common cult beliefs that arise throughout human history and civilizations.  It contains mature themes, images, and concepts.  It was written for myself as a way to process and understand these recurring patterns.  Due to the length of the essay, I…

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