Definitionv1DF-473
Blame instinct
the deeply wired human cognitive tendency to focus on identifying a specific person responsible for an error rather than understanding the systemic conditions that produced the error, which prevents learning and leads to ineffective responses
Why This Is a Definition
This definition identifies 'blame instinct' as a specific cognitive tendency, places it within the genus of human cognitive biases, and specifies its differentia (focusing on person rather than systemic conditions). It explains both the mechanism (deeply wired) and the consequence (prevents learning), distinguishing it from mere accountability.