The Cargo Cult mental model originated from the behavior observed in some indigenous Pacific Island communities during and after World War II. These communities witnessed military personnel building airstrips and receiving airdropped supplies, including valuable cargo. Believing that these actions were responsible for the delivery of goods, some indigenous people began mimicking the rituals and structures of the military in the hope of attracting similar benefits, even though they didn't understand the underlying principles behind them. This phenomenon came to symbolize the act of performing superficial actions without understanding their true purpose or effectiveness.

Imitating form without understanding function. Cargo Cult cautions against superficial efforts that miss the deeper process. ✈️🏝️ #CargoCult #CriticalThinking #MentalModels #Innovation #Understanding