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The Incentives Lab
HBT-COG-0619 · Dimension COG · Cognition

Single Cause Fallacy

Assuming one cause where many are at play.

Causation Fallacy·Logical Fallacy·Grade B·stub· enriching…

Scientific Definition

Assuming one cause where many are at play.

Plain-English Definition

Assuming one cause where many are at play.

Feynman Explanation

The strategy worked because of leadership. (Also: timing, luck, capital, market, competitors…)

Core Principle

Assuming one cause where many are at play.

Mechanisms

Psychological

Assuming one cause where many are at play.

Behavioral Economic

Pending editorial review.

Neurological

Pending editorial review.

Evolutionary

Pending editorial review.

Sociological

Pending editorial review.

Computational

Pending editorial review.

Systems

Pending editorial review.

Inputs (Triggers)

Pending editorial review.

Outputs (Behaviors)

Pending editorial review.

Behavioral Signature

The strategy worked because of leadership. (Also: timing, luck, capital, market, competitors…)

Examples

Everyday
  • Crediting a turnaround entirely to one new exec hire.
Modern (Organizational)
  • Multi-factor outcomes attributed to one factor; lessons mis-learned.
Historical

Pending editorial review.

Famous Experiments

Pending editorial review.

Design Principles

Pending editorial review.

Measurement Approaches

Pending editorial review.

Evidence

Evidence Grade
B (A strongest → E speculative)
Replication
★★★☆☆
Intervention Confidence
3 / 5
Consensus
Pending editorial review (HBT v1.0 auto-seed).
Limitations
Pending editorial review (HBT v1.0 auto-seed).
Open Research Questions

Pending editorial review.

Primary References

Pending editorial review.

Signature Section

The Perverse Incentive Lens™

How this behavior is exploited — and how to redesign around it.

Exploitation
Multi-factor outcomes attributed to one factor; lessons mis-learned.
Amplifying Incentives
Multi-factor outcomes attributed to one factor; lessons mis-learned.
Org Failure Modes
Multi-factor outcomes attributed to one factor; lessons mis-learned.
Societal Failure Modes
Pending editorial review (HBT v1.0 auto-seed).
Ethical Considerations
Pending editorial review (HBT v1.0 auto-seed).
Redesign Strategies
Pending editorial review (HBT v1.0 auto-seed).
Diagnostic Questions

Pending editorial review.

Warning Signs

Pending editorial review.

Red Flags

Pending editorial review.

Intervention Playbook
Individual
Pending editorial review (HBT v1.0 auto-seed).
Team
Pending editorial review (HBT v1.0 auto-seed).
Organization
Pending editorial review (HBT v1.0 auto-seed).
Policy
Pending editorial review (HBT v1.0 auto-seed).
AI Implications
Detection
Pending editorial review (HBT v1.0 auto-seed).
Measurement
Pending editorial review (HBT v1.0 auto-seed).
Mitigation
Pending editorial review (HBT v1.0 auto-seed).
Responsible Use
Pending editorial review (HBT v1.0 auto-seed).

Interactive Mini Network

Click any neighbor to re-center the graph and follow the threads of connection.

HBT-COG-0619 · COG
Single Cause Fallacy
SCATAffirming the Conseq…AFArgument from Final …CICorrelation Implies …CHCum Hoc Ergo Propter…DTDenying the AntecedentGRGalaxy-Brain ReasoningPHPost Hoc Ergo Propte…SSSlippery SlopeSSSlippery Slope (caus…AHAd Hominem

Knowledge Graph Neighbors

Version History

v1.1.0 · 2026-06-28Initial auto-seed from corpus.