---
title: "Mental modeling"
source: 18F Guides
source_url: https://github.com/18F/guides
licence: CC0-1.0
domain: engineering
subdomain: 18f-guides
date_added: 2026-04-25
---

## How to do it{#how-mental-model}

1. Create one three-columned table per [persona]({{ "/methods/decide/personas/" | url }}). Label the columns “Past,” “Present behavior,” and “Future.”
1. In the middle column (Present behavior), list current user behaviors and pain points broadly related to the project, one per row.
1. In the left-hand column (Past), list the products, services, features, and/or interfaces that the user encounters as they go about what’s listed in the Present behavior column.
1. In the right-hand column (Future), list possible products, services, features, and/or interface elements that in the future might change behaviors and pain points in the Present behavior column.

<section class="method--section method--section--government-considerations" markdown="1" >

## Government considerations{#con-mental-model}

No PRA implications. No information is collected from members of the public.
</section>
