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The Incentives Lab
HBT-IDN-0023 · Dimension IDN · Identity

Semmelweis Reflex

Reflexively rejecting evidence that contradicts established norms.

Belief Bias·Cognitive Bias·Grade B·draft· enriching…

Scientific Definition

Reflexively rejecting evidence that contradicts established norms.

Plain-English Definition

Reflexively rejecting evidence that contradicts established norms.

Feynman Explanation

The data is wrong because the data is inconvenient.

Core Principle

Reflexively rejecting evidence that contradicts established norms.

Mechanisms

Psychological

Reflexively rejecting evidence that contradicts established norms.

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 data is wrong because the data is inconvenient.

Examples

Everyday
  • Outside research dismissed by leadership because 'they don't understand our context.'
Modern (Organizational)
  • Disruptive insight repelled by institutional antibodies.
Historical

Pending editorial review.

Famous Experiments

Pending editorial review.

Design Principles

  • Pre-commit to the criteria that would change your mind. Then watch for it.

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
AI capability evidence rejected by departments it would change.
Amplifying Incentives
Disruptive insight repelled by institutional antibodies.
Org Failure Modes
Disruptive insight repelled by institutional antibodies.
Societal Failure Modes
Pending editorial review (HBT v1.0 auto-seed).
Ethical Considerations
Pending editorial review (HBT v1.0 auto-seed).
Redesign Strategies
Pre-commit to the criteria that would change your mind. Then watch for it.
Diagnostic Questions
  • Pre-commit to the criteria that would change your mind. Then watch for it.
Warning Signs

Pending editorial review.

Red Flags

Pending editorial review.

Intervention Playbook
Individual
Pre-commit to the criteria that would change your mind. Then watch for it.
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
AI capability evidence rejected by departments it would change.
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-IDN-0023 · IDN
Semmelweis Reflex
SRACAvailability CascadeBEBackfire EffectBPBelief PerseveranceCBConfirmation BiasCBConservatism BiasJHJust-World HypothesisPBPro-Innovation BiasSBSurvivorship BiasSJSystem JustificationBBBias Blind Spot

Knowledge Graph Neighbors

Version History

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