Cognitive Biases That Undermine Personal Safety Habits

Human beings like to believe they are rational, especially when it comes to their own safety. Yet daily behaviour reveals otherwise. People routinely underestimate risks, overestimate their ability to respond in crises, and ignore obvious warning signs. These failures are not the product of ignorance but of deep-seated cognitive biases that distort judgement. In the realm of personal safety, these biases can prove lethal.

The most common trap is the assumption that life will continue as it always has. This is known as Normalcy Bias.  When confronted with danger, whether it’s a sudden act of violence or a natural disaster, many people freeze, unable to process that events have broken from routine. They downplay the severity of the threat, convincing themselves it is temporary or exaggerated. This bias explains why crowds often hesitate during emergencies, wasting critical seconds that could mean the difference between escape and entrapment.

People tend to believe that “it won’t happen to me.” This is called Optimism Bias and this misplaced optimism causes individuals to dismiss precautions as unnecessary. They walk alone at night in unsafe areas, leave valuables in plain sight, or fail to lock doors, believing misfortune only strikes others. Statistically, while crime may cluster in certain demographics or neighbourhoods, randomness still plays a decisive role. Optimism bias blinds people to probabilities, encouraging complacency until reality delivers a harsh often expensive correction.

A common Bias Australians experienced during the Covid 19 response was Authority Bias. When confronted by perceived authority, whether a uniform, a badge, or even just confidence, individuals often suspend their own judgement. This leads to compliance with harmful instructions or failure to challenge suspicious and dangerous behaviour. Criminals and predators frequently exploit this weakness, posing as officials or leaning on social pressure to bypass resistance. Authority bias erodes self-protection by conditioning people to surrender responsibility for their own safety. Look out for those saying Trust the science or trust me I’m a Doctor, Iatrogenesis is in the top 3 killers of citizens in the Western world.

The human mind equates familiarity with safety. People trust environments they know, even when conditions change. A neighbourhood bar might feel secure until tempers flare. A workplace may appear safe until routine lapses create hazards. Familiarity encourages shortcuts, such as ignoring evacuation drills or disregarding standard safety procedures. Over time, this habitual neglect fosters vulnerability. Remaining heuristic of familiarity is a requirement to remaining safe and secure.

Individuals filter information to fit their existing worldview and this leads to Confirmation Bias. If someone believes their community is “safe,” they will ignore crime reports or dismiss troubling encounters as anomalies. This bias prevents honest assessment of risk. The consequence is failure to adapt when conditions deteriorate, whether through rising crime rates or social instability. The refusal to confront evidence makes danger both invisible and inevitable.

Each of these biases like normalcy, optimism, authority, familiarity, and confirmation share a common feature.  They shift responsibility away from the individual. Instead of confronting risk with clarity, people outsource judgement to habits, assumptions, or external cues. Predators and opportunists rely on these blind spots and they are as exploitable as an unlocked door.

The antidote to cognitive bias is disciplined awareness. This does not mean living in paranoia but cultivating habits that override instinctive errors. Training, rehearsal, and conscious reflection help replace false confidence with prepared vigilance. When individuals accept that the mind’s shortcuts can also be traps, they reclaim the ability to act decisively.

Safety is not just about equipment, security guards, or laws. It begins with the ability to see reality as it is, not as one wishes it to be. Recognising and correcting cognitive biases is the first step toward genuine personal security.

Bias is natural but leaving it unchecked is negligent. Awareness, rehearsal, and disciplined scepticism break the cycle of complacency. Predators exploit assumptions, but prepared individuals dismantle them.

From the author.

The opinions and statements are those of Sam Wilks and do not necessarily represent whom Sam Consults or contracts to. Sam Wilks is a skilled and experienced Security and Risk Consultant with 3 decades of expertise in the fields of Real estate, Security, and the hospitality/gaming industry. Sam has trained over 1,000 entry level security personnel, taught defensive tactics, weapons training and handcuffs to policing personnel and the public. His knowledge and practical experience have made him a valuable asset to many organisations looking to enhance their security measures and provide a safe and secure environment for their clients and staff.