Using mental models to understand soil management

Abstract Soil degradation continues to be a serious issue. This is partially due to the specific characteristics of soil and degradation, many of which are linked to how humans perceive their environment. How a person perceives soil degradation will influence how they interpret this phenomenon, what attitude they adopt towards it, and how they will ultimately decide to act. Mental models are understood as constructed by the human mind as a result of perception, experience, attitudes and knowledge, and the comprehension of discourse. Applying the concept of mental models allows an understanding of land manager decision‐making with regard to soil management, linking perceptions, attitudes and beliefs with behaviour. We show how mental models can help identify consistencies and differences of perceptions of different soil‐related stakeholders, such as farmers, scientists, administrators, advisors and policy makers. In a practical test of the concept, a diagram‐based representation of mental models was applied in south‐western Spain. We found that the occurrences of overlap in the mental model of soil‐related stakeholders are the areas where communication should focus. It is in these areas where strategies to address the problem of soil degradation can be developed.