Paradigm Shift

• A paradigm is another name for a mental model.

• A paradigm shift occurs when one’s existing
mental model is replaced with a significantly
different new mental model.

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 Paradigm Shift

• Old view:
• The sun revolves around the earth

• New view:
• The earth revolves around the sun

• This paradigm shift took almost 300 years

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 Paradigm Shift
• Old view:
• Parents have no hope for their child who has a terminal
disease which has no effective treatment

• New view:
• Parents learn of new treatment discovery and now have
hope for their child

• How long do you think it will take for this

paradigm shift to take place?
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 Paradigm Shifts

• The shift to the belief that the earth revolves

around the sun took almost 300 years.

• The shift to the belief that the parents’ child could

benefit from a new treatment would likely
instantaneous once they absorb the new
information

• Why is there such a disparity in time?

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