Principlev1
Under conditions of stress, fatigue, or emotional pressure,
Under conditions of stress, fatigue, or emotional pressure, humans execute degraded versions of cognitive processes without awareness—making externalized checklists necessary for consistency when stakes are highest.
Why This Is a Principle
Derives from Directed Attention as Depletable Resource (cognitive resources deplete), Human memory under stress and cognitive load is unreliable (memory under stress is unreliable), and The prefrontal cortex requires time to override limbic (prefrontal cortex requires time to override limbic responses). Prescribes external systems for high-stakes situations—principle-level because it applies broadly to any critical process.