Final answer:
An individual with comprehensive understanding of the interconnected aspects of a subject has a strong conceptual mental model. The conceptual approach is rooted in understanding relational structures between parts, similar to French structuralism, and relates to cognitive processes such as the development and refinement of schemata.
Step-by-step explanation:
When an individual understands the pieces of a complex subject, as well as how the pieces relate and interconnect with each other, this individual has a strong conceptual mental model of the topic. The term conceptual refers to the understanding of how concepts within a subject or system relate to one another, forming a coherent whole. This comprehension is akin to what French anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss described in French structuralism, where culture is viewed as a system of symbols with interconnected parts, which can be analyzed across various realms including myths, religion, and more.
Furthermore, this notion is relevant to learning processes and cognitive development. For instance, schemata, as psychological constructs, play a crucial role in how information is organized and processed efficiently by the brain. A schema is a representation that allows immediate assumptions when activated and can be refined to illustrate complexities, such as biocomplexity that arises from the interaction of constituent parts.