Representational systems refer to the internal senses we use to mentally recreate or “re-present” our external experiences. Just as we use our five physical senses—sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell—to perceive the world, we also use internal versions of these senses to think and recall events.
It’s why five people can attend the same event and each describe it differently—because they internally process the experience in their own unique ways.
Understanding How People Think
You might have noticed that sometimes people don’t seem to “get” you, or that you’re not quite syncing with someone during a conversation. That’s often because you’re each using different representational systems to interpret or communicate about the experience.
While we can’t read minds, we can pick up on which senses a person is primarily engaging with—what they’re seeing, hearing, feeling, tasting, or smelling—based on a few key indicators.
How to Recognize Someone’s Representational System
- Eye Movements: People’s eye patterns often shift based on how they’re processing thoughts—whether they’re visualizing something, recalling sounds, or focusing on sensations.
- Language and Word Choice: The words people use offer clues.
- Visual: see, imagine, picture, look
- Auditory: hear, say, listen, sound
- Kinesthetic: feel, grasp, touch, hold
- Gustatory: taste, savor, chew
- Olfactory: smell, aroma, scent
- Body Language: Posture, breathing, and muscle tension can reveal which sense is most active. For example, someone processing kinesthetically might breathe more deeply and move more slowly.
Enhancing Communication
By noticing the sensory-based language someone uses, you can adapt your communication to match their representational system. This not only helps your message get across more effectively, but also builds a sense of connection and understanding—what’s often referred to as rapport.
Problems and Mental Flexibility
People who strongly favor one system may get “stuck” using only that mode of thinking. The broader the range of sensory processing we use, the more tools we have to understand and solve problems. For instance:
- Someone overwhelmed by emotion (kinesthetic) might benefit from stepping back and visualizing the situation.
- A person relying too much on visual input might miss emotional or intuitive cues.
Expanding our awareness to include multiple systems gives us a richer toolkit for navigating life and relationships.
Why We Use Certain Words
Context influences which sensory system we lean into. At an art museum, we engage more visually; at a concert, our auditory senses take the lead. Most people use all the systems, but we naturally develop preferences over time.
Types of Sensory Processing
There are five main sensory systems through which we interpret the world:
- Visual – processing through sight and mental images
- Auditory – interpreting sounds and language
- Kinesthetic – focusing on touch, movement, and internal feelings
- Olfactory – engaging with smells
- Gustatory – interpreting tastes
Additionally, there is Auditory Digital processing—this refers to internal dialogue, logical analysis, and self-talk. Though it’s not linked to one of the five physical senses, it is often considered part of the representational system model.
