korrents

← People and their mental models

Josh Barro's mental models

2 claims Josh Barro made fit 2 mental models. Most often: Incentives, Signalling. Everything they said here.

Models they name

Their own words name the idea.

Signalling

Much of what people do is a message about themselves, and a signal is believed only when it costs something to send.

Used by 15 others

Having worked at a highly selective, demanding employer signals conscientiousness and reliability.

  1. Josh Barro Writes Very Serious, a newsletter on politics Having worked there is a signal that you work hard, you complete your assignments, you adapt well to new tasks and requirements, and you're ready to take on new challenges. Low-Conscientiousness Losers Are Bad Senate Candidatesjoshbarro.com · 3 Jun 2026All korrents from this piece
    Their wordsHaving worked there is a signal that you work hard, you complete your assignments, you adapt well to new tasks and requirements, and you're ready to take on new challenges.

    ↗Low-Conscientiousness Losers Are Bad Senate Candidatesjoshbarro.com

    3 Jun 2026

Models we see in what they say

Our reading: their claim applies the idea without naming it. The claim is theirs; filing it here is ours.

Incentives

Look at what people are rewarded for; it explains more behaviour than what they say, your own included.

Used by 84 others

Politicians increasingly govern by what polls well rather than by what actually produces outcomes voters are satisfied with.

  1. Josh Barro Writes Very Serious, a newsletter on politics politicians acting based on what they think polls well, rather than based on what will actually produce results that make voters happy Permanent Daylight Saving Time Is the Perfect Stupid Idea for Our Stupid Timejoshbarro.com · 17 Jul 2026All korrents from this piece
    Their wordspoliticians acting based on what they think polls well, rather than based on what will actually produce results that make voters happy

    ↗Permanent Daylight Saving Time Is the Perfect Stupid Idea for Our Stupid Timejoshbarro.com

    17 Jul 2026