Are we learning from accidents? Understanding the Human Mind
Oct 7, 2024
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John Soria, a young seafarer, shares his gripping experience of falling into a tank, opening the door to a rich discussion on human decision-making. The conversation dives into how cognitive errors occur in high-pressure situations and emphasizes the need for deeper understanding beyond a mere brain-focused approach. Soria stresses the importance of communication and relationships in preventing accidents, while also exploring the impact of unconscious decision-making. His insights shed light on learning from our mistakes through storytelling and empathy.
Human decision-making is heavily influenced by subconscious cues and emotions, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to understanding behavior.
Acknowledging the embodied nature of the mind fosters compassionate learning environments that prioritize emotional connections during accident investigations.
Deep dives
Understanding Human Decision-Making
Human decision-making often involves complex processes that are influenced by various biases, habits, and unconscious behaviors. Mistakes and accidents can shed light on these processes, prompting questions about procedure and accountability. Instead of relying on a strictly brain-centric view, which suggests that decision-making is merely a function of conscious reasoning, it's essential to recognize that much of our behavior is driven by subconscious cues and instincts. Understanding that the human mind cannot be reduced to mere mechanics allows for a deeper appreciation of how decisions manifest in real-life scenarios.
The Concept of the Embodied Mind
The notion of the embodied mind suggests that our cognitive processes are not confined to the brain but are experienced throughout our entire being. This concept emphasizes that a significant portion of our decision-making happens unconsciously, influenced by our emotions, physical state, and environment. For example, riding a bike is a complex task often managed unconsciously, allowing individuals to perform the activity fluidly without active thought. Acknowledging the embodied nature of mind invites a broader understanding of learning and accountability, highlighting the need for addressing behavior as a whole rather than pinpointing errors solely within the brain.
The Role of Affect in Learning
Affect plays a crucial role in our interactions and processes of learning, influencing how we respond to both individuals and situations. Emotional experiences often drive our perceptions and reactions, shaping how we navigate the world without overt cognitive reasoning. For instance, certain stimuli can evoke strong feelings that impact our decision-making without our conscious awareness, revealing the relational aspects of being human. Understanding affect in this context promotes a more compassionate and relational approach to learning and investigations, fostering environments where people feel safe to share experiences and emotions.
Rethinking Accountability and Investigations
When approaching accountability in cases of errors or accidents, it's important to consider the unconscious nature of many decisions and behaviors. Traditional investigative methods often focus on compliance with established procedures, which can overlook the context and relational dynamics influencing human actions. Engaging in open conversations allows individuals to explore their unconscious habits, leading to personal accountability and deeper insights. Prioritizing emotional connections during investigations encourages shared understanding rather than mere compliance, ultimately contributing to a culture of learning and relational growth.
What happens when someone by-passes an alarm, turns the wrong valve on the manifold, ignores a barrier, or leaves a winch lever unattended.
Where does your imagination take you? What questions come to your mind?
Whatever model you follow, whatever methods you use, everything begins with our assumptions about how the human mind and what does it even mean to be a human being?
Much of risk and safety - new or old, traditional or contemporary, 1 or 2 – implicitly assumes that the mind is encased in the brain and we are caught between the left brain / right brain metaphor.
Would you like to understand the science behind decision making? Would you like to find out what leading thinkers and cutting-edge research has to say about the human mind?
In this visual story, we will discuss why thinking about the mind as the brain is not only misleading but also unethical at many levels. This brain-centred approach to investigating accidents, and more generally, risk, safety and learning turns human beings into objects for measurement and hazards that need to be controlled.
We will discuss how to approach accident investigations, how to engage with people and how to ethically, sensibly and practically learn from accidents.
This story is full of practical examples and it is based on my recent book, Are We Learning from Accidents?
You can read my book here: https://nippinanand.com/
You can also find out all about our work here: https://novellus.solutions/
And you can check out our events on this page: https://novellus.solutions/events/
Link to the podcast with John Soria: https://novellus.solutions/insights/p...
Link to the article with John Soria: / situating-meaning-accidents-seafarers-stor...
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