The "normalization of deviance" is a gradual process where unacceptable practices become standard because they are repeated without immediate catastrophic consequences, driven by human rationalization ...

The old adage, "familiarity breeds contempt," rings eerily true when considering the dangers of normalizing deviance. Coined by sociologist Diane Vaughan, this phenomenon describes the gradual process ...

Before the space shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986, NASA was aware of the problems that led to the catastrophe. However, because previous shuttle missions had lifted off without negative ...

You might get away safely with a shortcut nine times out of ten, but that tenth time is going to hurt. Risk is unavoidable in the fire service — but that does not mean every risk is necessary. One of ...

The fire service is built on a foundation of camaraderie, courage, and a shared mission to protect and serve. Yet, like any profession, it is vulnerable to the pressures of everyday operations, human ...

But we should be careful about assuming that media attention creates a normalizing effect. It is just as likely that news coverage underscores the deviance or distastefulness of a contested topic. And ...