Hanlon’s Razor: People Aren't Coming To Get You

Hanlon’s razor is a rule of thumb which teaches us that we should “never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.” Put differently, rather than questioning someone’s intentions, it’s wise to question their competence. People are not always trying to screw us over. Sometimes, people do dumb things because they are, well, people.

It’s easy to assume that the hurtful actions of others are intentionally designed to harm us. Yet, in most cases, people in our lives don’t even know the impact they have on us. Acknowledging this shortcut can help us become less judgmental, better communicators. Malice exists, but it’s far less common than our instincts think. Our ancestors evolved in an environment where over-assuming danger was a survival strategy. Even though that is no longer the truth, we still think everybody and everything is trying to make us miserable, so Hanlon’s razor comes in handy.

The concept is rather self-explanatory. Human behavior is complex. Hanlon’s razor encourages you cut through this jambalaya by prioritizing a simpler explanation: stupidity, ignorance, or a mistake. Misunderstandings and errors are far, far more common than malicious intent. You don’t need to speculate and escalate reactions most of the time. By assuming the best about others—or at least not assuming the worst—you are better able to build constructive relationships. Also, you don’t waste your precious brains concocting elaborate conspiracy theories about why someone cut you off in traffic or whatever. Most errors are those of oversight, ignorance, or lack of ability. Don’t go mad. They are human. Just like you. Assume stupidity before evil.

Real life implications of Hanlon’s razor:

• Work: a worker might miss a meeting or deliver a flawed report; assume that they have misunderstood instructions or lacked resources rather than intentionally sabotaging the project, and approach them constructively to see how you can help resolve the issue;

• Customer service: a service representative can give incorrect information; assume it’s due to a lack of training, being overworked, or having no access to updated information instead of deliberate neglect, and seek a resolution calmly rather than escalating it and ruining the poor representative’s day;

• Interpersonal conflict: a friend could forget to call you or seem distant; consider that they might just be busy, preoccupied with a project, stressed, or unaware of the perceived withdrawal rather than intentionally ignoring you;

• Online interaction: somebody could post a controversial comment or make an uninformed statement; recognize that the likelihood of ignorance or lacking context is way higher than a fellow human acting in bad faith to make you feel worse about yourself;

• Leadership: an employee might repeatedly make errors in their work; explore whether the issue is due to inadequate training, an inability to do the task, unclear expectations, or a systemic problem before you cling to intentional disregard for rules;

• Parenting: your child can behave disruptively and not complete homework; in lieu of blaming it on their laziness and ignorance, weigh in the fact that they could simply not understand the task or that they feel overwhelmed with the sheer volume of expectations to meet.

How you might use Hanlon’s razor as a mental model: (1) pause before reacting, when faced with perceived slights or mistakes, taking a moment to consider whether an error or misunderstanding is the more likely cause than malice; (2) ask for clarification, seeking additional information before jumping to conclusions—this gives you a better starting point than assuming intentional harm; (3) practice empathy, putting yourself into the other person’s shoes to see whether their actions could have come from oversight, lack of knowledge, or competing priorities; (4) cultivate tolerance, knowing that humans are fallible creatures—mistakes happen, and people are mostly acting with good intentions despite their imperfections; (5) use Hanlon’s razor to concentrate on goodwill but still stay aware of patterns that indicate deeper issues—don’t shove intentional harm under the rug when it’s repetitive.

Thought-provoking insights. “Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence.” is a timeless interpretation of Hanlon’s razor by Napoleon Bonaparte, emphasizing the likelihood of error over ill intent. “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” this complements Hanlon’s razor in that even well-meaning actions can lead to negative outcomes due to incompetence or oversight. Like most mental models, it works best when paired with critical analysis, but the core lesson is: simplicity and empathy over suspicion and hostility for better outcomes. Default to simplicity. Humans are dumb.

Questions to reflect on:

1. How often do I attribute negative behavior to malice instead of considering simpler explanations?

2. What situations could my life be easier or better in by applying Hanlon's razor?

3. What steps can I take to avoid misinterpretations of wrongdoing?

4. In what ways can I practice empathy and understanding in my day-to-day interactions?

5. What are the upsides of giving others the benefit of the doubt?

Quotes that bother you at night:

1. "Assumptions are the termites of relationships." - Henry Winkler, American actor and author.

2. "When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but creatures of emotion." - Dale Carnegie, American writer and lecturer.

3. "Most misunderstandings could be avoided if people simply took the tie to ask, 'What else could this mean?'" - Shannon L. Alder, author.

Example use cases:

1. Work: applying the razor can help resolve workplace conflicts by encouraging us to consider that misunderstandings or mistakes, rather than malice, is the root cause of most issues. This lens fosters a more positive and collaborative work environment.

2. Customer service: customer service representatives can use Hanlon's razor to handle complaints and difficulties more effectively by assuming customers' frustrations to be innocent errors or unmet needs and not deliberate hostility.

3. Personal relationships: applying Hanlon's razor in personal relationships can help you, your partners, friends, and family members avoid conflict by weighing in that hurtful actions often arise from a lack of awareness and not intentional harm.

4. Social media: on online content platforms, where misunderstandings loom large, applying Hanlon's razor can promote a healthier and more respectful atmosphere by encouraging users to consider alternative explanations for others' behaviors and comments.