Mental models frame our interpretations and what we take to be reality.

These mental models are automatic, invisible to us, we have not 

chosen them and are needed for our survival. Human beings have the possibility to not pay attention to these “thinking, feeling, 
acting”mechanisms that kick in, and allow for the investigation of other alternatives.  
 
As any other animal our engagement with the world depends on our desires, and these are always satisfied, however, our language and 
our habits might obscure this fact.  
 
Here I send you some inspiration for possible experiments during this next week.  
 
The  synthesis  of  all  this  is  that  we  only  do  what  we  want  to  do  and,  if  we  are  still  not  convinced  of  this,  it  is  because  we  don’t  know 
what the true roots of our actions are. ​ ​ a formation de soi par soi. Beauvais, La Table Ronde, 1977 - reading for session 2 -  
Geneviève Lanfranchi. L
 
We deny responsibility for our actions when we attribute their cause to factors outside ourselves:  
● Vague, impersonal forces—“I cleaned my room because I had to.”  
● Our condition, diagnosis, or personal or psychological history—“I drink because I am an alcoholic.”  
● The actions of others—“I hit my child because he ran into the street.”  
● The dictates of authority—“I lied to the client because the boss told me to.”  
● Group pressure—“I started smoking because all my friends did.”  
● Institutional policies, rules, and regulations—“I have to suspend you for this infraction because it’s the school policy.”  
● Gender roles, social roles, or age roles—”I hate going to work, but I do it because I am a husband and a father.”  
● Uncontrollable impulses—“I was overcome by my urge to eat the candy bar.” 

Rosenberg, M. (2015). Nonviolent Communication. A Language of Life. Puddledancer Press. - Reading for sessions 3 and 4 -