This is a Lexicon entry: the mechanism, when it shows up, and the countermeasure. The full correction, with real-world cases and the audit prompt, hasn't been written yet.
Definition
The warning that our judgment is least trustworthy when we are most emotional; therefore, one should never act until the emotion passes.
When it shows up
Before acting on strong emotion; after any experience that has produced intense feeling. In expert witness testimony: when a specialist forgets what they did not know at the time of an event. In code documentation: when a developer cannot reconstruct the reasoning behind their own decisions three months later.
Failure mode
Decisions made in an emotionally hijacked state that you regret when calm. Sending the email, making the call, taking the action that you wish you hadn't.
Countermeasure
Wait until the emotion passes before acting on significant judgments. Ask: "What would I do if I were calm?" Act from that perspective.
Related traps
Also connected in the mapThe Affect Heuristic·2 more, locked
Credit & first seen
PopularizedCoined/popularized by Gurwinder Bhogal (The Prism - gurwinder.blog). First heard on Modern Wisdom with Chris Williamson () source ↗
Read next
Entry #561 of 631 in The Lexicon · see the full Lexicon