Understanding belief systems requires insight into the mental models that underlie how individuals represent and reason about complex or contested phenomena, such as disruptive technologies or political discourses. Mental models are internal representations that describe how people understand the structure and functioning of external systems. They form the cognitive foundation of laypersons’ belief systems and shape how information and values are integrated. To investigate such belief systems, methods that capture both explicit and implicit layers of meaning are needed. This symposium presents two complementary approaches for mapping mental models that differ in their degree of explicitness and the level of participant engagement required. At the explicit end, Cognitive-Affective Maps (CAMs) visualize belief systems as networks of emotionally evaluated concepts and relations. At the more implicit end, the Triads Task captures belief systems of individuals and groups in a standardized way, based on ratings of the similarity of three stimuli.

Julius Fenn (University of Freiburg) presents tools that make CAMs applicable within experimental paradigms. These tools enable researchers to manipulate belief structures, measure changes in affective–cognitive coherence, and integrate CAMs as dependent or independent variables in controlled designs.
René Dutschke (TU Dresden) presents its roots in Kelly’s theory of personal constructs and showcases its applications as a research tool.
Irina Monno (University of Freiburg) explores the potential of CAMs as a method to capture and measure changes in belief systems by visualizing shifts in cognitive and emotional structures.
Michael Gorki (University of Freiburg) uses CAMs alongside questionnaires to examine how “laypersons” conceptualize sustainability, a highly contested concept in public, academia and policy-making.
Bettina Harder (University of Erlangen-Nuremberg) evaluates the use of CAMs in diagnostic and counseling contexts. CAMs have proven to be helpful diagnostic tools by providing in-depth information in a structured way, thereby identifying individually relevant starting points for interventions to deal with stress or test anxiety.

Together, these approaches demonstrate a continuum of mapping techniques, from explicit to implicit. By highlighting their advantages, limitations, and practical potential, the symposium provides insights into new methods for investigating belief systems related to technological, ethical, psychological, and societal issues.