Thought Cabinet

A filled Thought Cabinet.

The early version of the Thought Cabinet.

The Thought Cabinet and its Thoughts are a game mechanic in Disco Elysium, offering insight into your life prior to the case, as well as stat bonuses and other minor gameplay differences.

Overview

Depending on choices made over the course of a playthrough, there will be a plethora of different Thoughts to internalize. Not every Thought can be earned in one playthrough, such as White Mourning (and potentially The Bow Collector) being opposite to Caustic Echo depending on which ledger is acquired, or Ace's Low and Ace's High being more or less the same skill with minor differences.

If a free slot is available in the Thought Cabinet, a discovered Thought may be equipped to begin researching it. While a Thought is being researched, a temporary skill penalty or bonus will be granted. During this process, the Thought may be equipped and unequipped freely, pausing or resuming the research. After a set amount of in-game time has passed, the equipped Thought will cause "breakthrough", after which a white thought orb will appear, and it will become permanently internalized. Forgetting a thought after this point will require a skill point to remove it, and it will be gone permanently from the Thought Cabinet for the remainder of the playthrough.

Research time does not progress for internalized Thoughts while sleeping.

Unique Thoughts

While most thoughts simply offer bonuses to Harry's skill point totals, some have unique effects.

• Volumetric Shit Compressor gives no lasting bonuses at all.
• Jamais Vu (Derealization), Actual Art Degree, Mazovian Socio-Economics, and Wompty-Dompty Dom Centre offer small amounts of bonus XP.
• The Fifteenth Indotribe, Indirect Modes of Taxation, Hobocop and Wompty-Dompty Dom Centre offer extra Reál.
• Jamrock shuffle allows Harry to find more money in locked containers.
• White Mourning offers an additional +20% zoom out distance.
• Homo-Sexual Underground allows Harry to talk to Kim Kitsuragi about sexuality.
• Opioid Receptor Antagonist prevents positive effects from drugs (speed and pyrholidon) while preventing any negative effects from alcohol. Waste Land of Reality does the opposite.
• The Precarious World causes all Red Checks to fail while it is equipped, and once internalized, it will make both critical successes and critical fails easier to achieve when rolling for active Checks.

Thoughts

Name	Temporary Research Bonus	Lasting Bonuses	Research Time	Acquisition
Ace's High	+1 Empathy towards Kim	+1 Empathy towards Kim Kitsuragi +1 Esprit de Corps	2h 45m	After successfully shooting down the Hanged Man, Harry can acquire this thought by giving Kim a high-five.
Ace's Low	+2 Empathy towards Kim	+2 Empathy towards Kim Kitsuragi +1 Esprit de Corps	2h 45m	After successfully shooting down the Hanged Man, Harry can acquire this thought by high-fiving Kim and waiting for an Ace's Low (requires Interfacing ≥ 5).
Actual Art Degree	-1 Perception	-1 Hand/Eye Coordination Conceptualization passives heal +1 Morale and give +10 XP	1h 30m	Harry must agree to being an Art Cop after choosing 4 related dialogue options.
Advanced Race Theory	-1 Drama	Learning Cap for Rhetoric raised to 5 +1 Conceptualization	1h 40m	Requires Harry to pass a Conceptualization check while talking to Measurehead.
Anti-Object Task Force	-2 Pain Threshold	Attacking physical objects heals damage +1 Pain Threshold All FYS learning caps raised by 1	2h 15m	Gained after Harry continually hits inanimate objects.
Apricot Chewing Gum Scented One	-1 Reaction Speed	+2 Perception	5h 5m	Smell both the card in the hidden compartment of the Damaged Ledger and the Apricot Chewing Gum Wrapper found in the pocket of Pour L'Homme Labourer Jeans.
Arno van Eyck	+1 Interfacing	All MOT white checks unlocked Reveal Arno van Eyck gig posters in the world	50m	Once Egg Head has been given the Reel of Magnetic Tape, Harry must agree with Acele that Arno van Eyck lives around Martinaise.
Bankruptcy Sequence	-1 Empathy	Int Check Failures give 1 reál	5h 15m	Gained after Harry pitches an idea to the Mega Rich Light-Bending Guy.
Boiadeiro	-1 Physical Instrument	-1 Esprit De Corps Cigarettes give +2 INT	6h 30m	After Harry speaks to Evrart Claire, speaking to Call Me Mañana and passing an Inland Empire check will allow him to question whether he is a Boiadeiro himself.
Bringing of the Law (Law-Jaw)	-1 Rhetoric	Learning Cap for Hand/Eye Coordination raised to 6 Automatically Succeed all Hand/Eye Coordination passives -1 Rhetoric	2h 55m	Harry must refer to himself as "The Law", "Lawbringer", or a policeman multiple times.
Caustic Echo	+1 Volition	+300 xp on Completion -1 Authority All MOT learning caps raised by 1	10h	After Harry successfully opens the hidden compartment in the Damaged Ledger, he must throw the card into the wind (must be outside).
Cleaning Out the Rooms	None	+1 Suggestion +1 Inland Empire +1 Rhetoric	5h 35m	Available if Harry is able to pass a Logic check with Soona at the church after investigating the void of sound (Day 3+).
Coach Physical Instrument	-2 Encyclopedia	+2 Physical Instrument if shirt slot is empty -1 Encyclopedia	40m	Fail the pétanque Red Check with Gaston Martin and René Arnoux. Requires ≥ 2 points in Physical Instrument.[citation needed]
Col Do Ma Ma Daqua	None	+3 Perception -1 Encyclopedia	7h 10m	After Harry speaks with Lena about the invisible Phasmid, a thought orb will appear after he walks outside. Listening closely will grant the thought.
Cop of the Apocalypse	-1 Rhetoric	Learning cap for Inland Empire raised to 6 Learning cap for Shivers raised to 6 Pyrholidon gives +2 PSY	6h 55m	Harry must agree to being an Apocalypse Cop after choosing 4 related dialogue options.
Date of Birth Generator	None	Learning Cap for Logic raised to 4 -1 difficulty to all FYS passives	7h 15m	Acquired after Harry wonders when he was born.
Detective Costeau	-2 Conceptualization	+1 Savoir Faire +1 Esprit de Corps	2h 30m	After failing a Conceptualization check when first speaking to Kim, Harry may choose to refer to himself as Detective Costeau. Once he finds his badge and discovers his legal name, refusing it will award the thought.
Fairweather T-500	-1 Savoir Faire	+2 Hand/Eye Coordination against enemies in FT-500 armour	3h 30m	After Harry finds one of four pieces of the Fairweather T-500 armour he may equip one of them to gain this thought.
Finger on the Eject Button	+2 Authority +2 Suggestion	Suicidal ideas every evening	2h	If Harry has ≥ 5 Pain Threshold, fails the Hardie boys Authority check, and chooses suicidal dialogue options, he will gain this thought.[citation needed]
Finger Pistols (9mm)	-2 Savoir Faire	+1 Reaction Speed Empty hand slots give Suggestion +1	1h	If Harry has ≥ 5 Composure when first talking to Siileng and chooses to produce finger guns, he will gain this thought.
Guillaume le Million	-1 Logic	+1 Pain Threshold All PSY Learning Caps raised by 1	4h 30m	Gained if Harry passes an Encyclopedia check while looking into the mirror in his room at the Whirling-in-Rags or Coastal Shack.
Hardcore Aesthetic	-2 Interfacing	+1 Volition +1 Endurance	1h 50m	Harry must sync sines with Noid, then pass the resulting Conceptualization check.
Hobocop	-1 Composure	Reveals extra Tare bottles on the map More money from selling tare bottles Learning cap for Shivers raised to 6	4h 20m	Gained after Harry refers to himself as Hobocop.
Homo-Sexual Underground	None	Stopped obsessing about sexuality Allows Harry to discuss sexuality with Kim.	8h	Harry must pass the Composure check when first talking to the Smoker on the Balcony, then ask if he's in the homo-sexual underground after he appears in the Whirling-in-Rags.
Indirect Modes of Taxation	-2 Empathy	Ultraliberal dialogue options give +1 reál -1 Empathy	1h 45m	Acquired immediately if Harry wears the Brown Derbies, or after 4 Ultraliberal points have been earned.
Inexplicable Feminist Agenda	+2 Authority vs Males	+1 Empathy -1 Electrochemistry	3h 45m	Harry must claim to be a feminist after Garte admits what he believes the true reason behind Sylvie leaving was.
Jamais Vu (Derealization)	None	+1 XP for every orb clicked All INT learning caps raised by 1	3h 25m	After Harry speaks to Lena about the world of Elysium, she will suggest talking to to Joyce Messier to learn more. Asking Joyce where they are will grant this thought.
Kingdom of Conscience	-2 Half-light	Moralist Dialogue options heal +1 Morale Learning Cap for Volition raised to 5 Learning cap for Logic raised to 5	1h 25m	Acquired immediately if Harry wears the Interisolary Trousers, or after 4 Moralism points have been earned.
Lonesome Long Way Home	+1 Encyclopedia	Perception learning cap raised to 5 Speed gives 1 PSY	6h 5m	Acquired after Harry wonders where his home is.
Magnesium-Based Lifeform	-1 Shivers	+2 Volition -1 Logic	1h 15m	Gained after Harry speaks to to Cuno about the Magnesium found in his shack.[citation needed]
Mazovian Socio-Economics	-2 Visual Calculus	Left-wing Dialogue options give +4 xp -1 Visual Calculus -1 Authority	3h 10m	Acquired after Harry earns 4 Communism points.
Motorway South	-1 Visual Calculus	+1 Inland Empire All INT White Checks Unlocked	8h 10m	Acquired after Harry speaks with both Joyce Messier and the Paledriver about the Pale.
One More Door	+1 Half-light	-1 Half-Light All PSY White Checks Unlocked	45m	Trying and failing to open the bunker door north of the Church, will award Harry with this thought.
Opioid Receptor Antagonist	-2 Electrochemistry	No positive effects from drugs No negative effects from alcohol	55m	If Harry insists that Klaasje Amandou's drugs are nothing to be proud of, he will gain this thought.
Overproductive Honour Glands	-4 Drama	Learning cap for Authority raised to 5	20m	Harry must agree to being an Honour Cop after choosing 4 related dialogue options.
Regular Law Official	-2 Inland Empire	-1 Shivers -1 Inland Empire All learning caps raised to 3	1h 20m	Harry must agree to being a Boring Cop after choosing 4 related dialogue options.
Remote Viewers Division	-1 Perception	-1 Difficulty to all PSY Passive Checks -1 Drama	6h	Gained if Harry shows interest in the Remote Viewers Division, ESP, and the para-natural whenever it is brought up.
Revacholian Nationhood	-1 Composure	Nationalist dialogue options damage -1 Morale Alcohol gives +2 FYS	9h 10m	Acquired after Harry earns 4 Fascism points.
Rigorous Self-Critique	-1 Authority	INT and PSY Red Check failures heal +1 Morale FYS and MOT Red Check failures heal +1 Health Learning Cap for Pain Threshold increased to +6	6h	Harry must agree to being a Sorry Cop after choosing 4 related dialogue options.
Searchlight Division	None	+2 Perception	3h 15m	Acquired after Harry speaks to Lena, Lilenne and the Working Class Woman about missing people.
Some kind of Superstar	-2 Logic	-1 Logic Learning cap for Visual Calculus raised to 6 Learning cap for Suggestion raised to 6 Learning cap for Electrochemistry raised to 6 Learning cap for Composure raised to 6	1h 10m	Harry must agree to being a Superstar Cop after choosing 4 related dialogue options.
The Bow Collector	-1 Authority -1 Hand/Eye Coordination	+3 Shivers	6h 10m	If Harry has ≥ 6 Conceptualization after opening the hidden compartment in the Damaged Ledger and did not throw away the card, he will gain this thought while speaking to the Ancient Reptilian Brain about the bow collector. May be acquired alongside White Mourning.
The Fifteenth Indotribe	None	+10 cents for each green orb clicked Learning Cap for Savoir Faire raised to 6	5h 55m	Speaking to Joyce Messier about how The Wild Pines Group ships "8 percent of *all* cargo in the world", will allow Harry to gain this thought.
The Insulindian Miracle	None	All White Checks unlocked	7h 45m	Once Harry tells Joyce Messier about the Union's ultimate end goal and listens to her explanation of the history of the isolas' discovery, he will gain this thought.
The Jamrock Shuffle	-1 Esprit de Corps	Find better loot in locked containers	1h 5m	Gained after Harry opens several locked doors and containers.
The Litany of Contact Mike	-1 Logic -1 Conceptualization -1 Drama	All FYS White Checks unlocked	15m	Gained after Harry speaks to Acele about Contact Mike.
The Precarious World	All red checks fail	Critical success/failure thresholds -1	4h	Acquired after Harry succeeds at a Shivers check with the Novelty Dicemaker.
The Suicide of Kras Mazov	-1 Rhetoric	+1 Rhetoric White Check failures heal all Morale	4h 45min	Gained after Harry refers to himself as Kras Mazov multiple times.
Torque Dork	-2 Conceptualization	+2 Interfacing All Interfacing White Checks unlocked	25m	Gained after Harry talks about motor carriages with Kim multiple times. Requires high Interfacing.[citation needed]
Volumetric Shit Compressor	None	All currently locked white Endurance checks unlocked Learning cap for Endurance raised to 4	30m	After throwing up twice while attempting to examine the corpse of the Hanged Man, Kim will tell Harry to "get his shit together" if he states he no longer wishes to work for the RCM, prompting this thought.
Waste Land of Reality	-2 Physical Instrument	-1 Physical Instrument -1 Inland Empire -1 Suggestion +1 to all PSY skills No positive effects from Alcohol	20h	Harry may acquire this thought by either speaking to Measurehead after he internalizes Advanced Race Theory and telling him he needs to get sober, or by speaking to Tiago on Day 3+.
White Mourning	-1 Authority	+20% Zoom Out Distance All MOT learning caps raised by 1	5h	Available if Harry opens the hidden compartment in his Damaged Ledger, and reads card inside it.
Wompty-Dompty Dom Centre	-1 Suggestion	Encyclopedia passives give +10 xp and +2 reál -2 Suggestion	42m	Acquired after Trant Heidelstam tells Harry about the Wompty-Dompty Dom Centre.