There are over 300 cognitive biases that all humans access unconsciously and over 300 unconscious social influences (https://safetyrisk.net/mapping-social-influence-strategies/) that affect every social relationship. You would think that an industry like safety would be interested in … [Read more...] about Dunning-Kruger is Alive and Well in Safety
Bias
The Mystery of The Unconscious for Safety
You won’t find a detailed study of the human unconscious in relation to risk and safety in the safety industry. Yet, you will hear countless references to it as: ‘complacency’, ‘lack of awareness’ and ‘lack of concentration’ etc. Indeed, most often when the word ‘complacency’ is given that’s the end … [Read more...] about The Mystery of The Unconscious for Safety
The Abilene Paradox
Has it ever happened to you to have an opinion about something and when you get to say your opinion in public to say what others want to hear while keeping your opinion just for yourself? If so, it is quite possible that you are a victim of the Abilene paradox. The story behind the Abilene … [Read more...] about The Abilene Paradox
How Bias Inhibits Learning in Safety
Tim Minchin is an Australian composer, musician, entertainer and comedian who really knows how to reveal the human condition. In this short video he ‘nails’ the challenges of Confirmation Bias (see below). Confirmation Bias is one of hundreds of unconscious filters we use every moment of every day … [Read more...] about How Bias Inhibits Learning in Safety
20 Cognitive Biases That Affect Risk Decision Making
20 Cognitive Biases That Affect Risk Decision Making Republished by request Thanks to Rob Long for sharing this – originally published here on Business Insider. Ever wondered why your decisions, risk assessments and incident investigations are not as objective as you may think? Rob Long defines … [Read more...] about 20 Cognitive Biases That Affect Risk Decision Making
Bias – You Wonder Why Traditional Safety Can Never Work
Bias - You Wonder Why Traditional Safety Can Never Work The Way We Expect It To Just reading “Why We Make Mistakes” which is Chapter 12 of Rob Sams’ excellent new book Social Sensemaking. (yes, I am biased – read on and you could get a free copy!). In this Chapter, Rob refers to one of the ‘killer’ … [Read more...] about Bias – You Wonder Why Traditional Safety Can Never Work
Learning Doesn’t Provide Immunity
Learning Doesn’t Provide Immunity Just because I’ve learnt a little about how I make decisions and judgments, it does not mean that I will always make better decisions. I know that I am vulnerable in my decision-making and that it is thick with bias. Perhaps the best I can hope for is to recognise … [Read more...] about Learning Doesn’t Provide Immunity