This article conceptualizes systems thinking from the perspective of mental models. It portrays systems thinking as a combination of perception, prior knowledge and reasoning processes for guiding decision‐making in complex, dynamic situations. Systems thinking is mostly considered as a skill, and assessment instruments are based on the observable products of thinking. However, there is a lack of research on the cognitive processes involved in generating mental representations of complex dynamic systems, deriving possible behaviours and decisions. Thus, we propose a conceptual framework that combines mental models of dynamic systems and the cognitive theory of reasoning with mental models of possibilities . This theory identifies an intuitive and a deliberative reasoning process describing how the deliberative process influences the mental model of the perceived situation. While remaining compatible with the existing literature on systems thinking, this framework addresses this gap. Through examples, the study illustrates how the distinct levels of systems thinking knowledge of three stylized agents lead to different models, even when the reasoning process is identical. Boundary mismatch errors in the represented structure lead to errors in judging‐system behaviours as necessary, possible or impossible, leading to different decisions. Based on this finding, several new research questions are proposed concerning the dynamics of the cognitive processes and mental models over the iterations of dynamic decision‐making in laboratory experiments. We close with a call for more research to move beyond the current limitations.

Introduction It is known that cognitive deficits are a core feature of schizophrenia and that in the general population, prior beliefs significantly influence learning and reasoning processes. However, the interaction of prior beliefs with cognitive deficits and their impact on performance in schizophrenia patients is still poorly understood. This study investigates the role of beliefs and cognitive variables (CVs) like working memory, associative learning, and processing speed on learning processes in individuals with schizophrenia. We hypothesize that beliefs will influence the ability to learn correct predictions and that first-episode schizophrenia patients (FEP) will show impaired learning due to cognitive deficits. Methods We used a predictive-learning task to examine how FEP (n = 23) and matched controls (n = 23) adjusted their decisional criteria concerning physical properties during the learning process when predicting the sinking behavior of two transparent containers filled with aluminum discs when placed in water. Results On accuracy, initial differences by group, trial type, and interaction effects of these variables disappeared when CVs were controlled. The differences by conditions, associated with differential beliefs about why the objects sink slower or faster, were seen in patients and controls, despite controlling the CVs' effect. Conclusions Differences between groups were mainly explained by CVs, proving that they play an important role than what is assumed in this type of task. However, beliefs about physical events were not affected by CVs, and beliefs affect in the same way the decisional criteria of the control or FEP patients' groups.

La diadococinesia es la capacidad para ejecutar movimientos repetidos y alternados de manera rápida. En el ámbito del habla, la tasa de diadococinesia (TDDK) se utiliza para evaluar la destreza e integridad del control motor. Aunque existen estudios sobre la TDDK en hablantes de español chileno, no existen valores normativos en adultos jóvenes. Nuestro estudio tuvo como objetivo describir y establecer datos normativos preliminares de la TDDK. Para ello se midió la TDDK de 250 adultos jóvenes típicos de entre 18 y 25 años, hablantes de español de Chile. Para medir la TDDK, los participantes tuvieron que repetir la sílaba [pa] lo más rápido posible frente al micrófono, durante 8 segundos. Para el registro del habla se utilizó el software Motor Speech Profile. Se analizaron cinco parámetros: DDKavp, DDKavr, DDkcvp, DDkjit y DDKcvi. En la muestra estudiada, la distribución de puntajes de estos parámetros no se ajustó a la distribución normal; motivo por el cual se procedió a establecer normas por cuartiles. Además, se calculó la correlación de Spearman de estos parámetros con la edad y se observó que los parámetros DDKcvp y DDKjit tienden a disminuir entre los 18 y los 25 años. Se espera que estos hallazgos sean útiles para fines de investigación y clínicos, ya que basados en estos parámetros se podrán realizar comparaciones con poblaciones de otras edades y personas pertenecientes a grupos clínicos.

This research studies the main differences between causal, neutral, and arbitrary content in biconditional interpretations with factual scenarios. Our goal is to demonstrate that people evaluate the semantic content of conditional statements rather than following logical formulations when reasoning with conditional arguments. The phenomenon of Conditional Perfection occurs when people prefer a biconditional interpretation over a conditional one when the scenario warrants it, for this reason we have experimentally manipulated the content and scenarios of the statement to modulate the acceptance of conditional arguments such as modus ponens, modus tollens, affirmation of the consequent, and denial of the antecedent.

We studied how personality differences and conversation topics predict interpersonal speech synchronization, leading/following dynamics, and nonverbal interactional dominance in dyadic conversations. 100 undergraduate students (50 same-gender dyads) had a 15-minute conversation following three topics (introduction/self-disclosure/argumentation) in our laboratory. Their speech synchronization and turn-taking (speech/silence) dynamics were assessed through nonlinear time-series analyses: Cross-Recurrence Quantification Analysis (CRQA), Diagonal Cross-Recurrence Profiles (DCRP), and Anisotropic-CRQA. From the time series, we extracted five variables to operationalize speech synchronization (global and at lag-zero), leading-following dynamics, and asymmetries in the interacting partners’ nonverbal interactional dominance. Interaction appraisals were also assessed. Associations between personality traits Extraversion/Agreeableness, speech synchronization, and nonverbal interactional dominance were tested using mixed-effects models. Speech synchronization and nonverbal interactional dominance differed across conversational topics and peaked during argumentative conversations. Extraversion was associated with increased speech synchronization, and nonverbal interactional dominance, especially during an argumentative conversation. Extraversion homogeneity was associated with more symmetry in turn-taking dynamics during a self-disclosure conversation. Speech synchronization was generally associated with positive post-conversational appraisals such as wanting to meet in the future or liking the conversation partner, especially in extroverted individuals, whereas introverts seemed to value less swift dynamics. High Agreeableness predicted less speech synchronization during argumentative conversations, and increased speech synchronization (at lag-zero) predicted reduced perceived naturality in agreeable individuals. This may suggest a trade-off between maintaining swift speech dynamics and the natural flow of conversation for individuals high in Agreeableness.