PsychChat

In this episode of PsychChat, I discuss the pervasive behaviour of defensive decision-making in the workplace. Listen to this episode, where I share tips to mitigate such behaviour in the workplace.

References

Artinger, F., Petersen, M., Gigerenzer, G., & Weibler, J. (2015). Heuristics as adaptive decision strategies in management. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 36(S1), S33-S52.

Brockner, J., & Higgins, E. T. (2001). Regulatory focus theory: Implications for the study of emotions at work. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 86(1), 35-66.

Edmondson, A. C. (1999). Psychological safety and learning behavior in work teams. Administrative Science Quarterly, 44(2), 350-383.

Gigerenzer, G. (2014). Risk savvy: How to make good decisions. Penguin.

Greenhalgh, L., & Rosenblatt, Z. (1984). Job insecurity: Toward conceptual clarity. Academy of Management Review, 9(3), 438-448.

Higgins, E. T. (1998). Promotion and prevention: Regulatory focus as a motivational principle. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 30, 1-46.

Hobfoll, S. E. (1989). Conservation of resources: A new attempt at conceptualizing stress. American Psychologist, 44(3), 513-524.

Hobfoll, S. E., Halbesleben, J., Neveu, J. P., & Westman, M. (2018). Conservation of resources in the organizational context: The reality of resources and their consequences. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 5, 103-128.

Marx-Fleck, S., Junker, N. M., Artinger, F., & van Dick, R. (2021). Defensive decision making: Operationalization and the relevance of psychological safety and job insecurity from a conservation of resources perspective. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology,  Vol 94 (3), 485-788.

Mello, M. M., Chandra, A., Gawande, A. A., & Studdert, D. M. (2010). National costs of the medical liability system. Health Affairs, 29(9), 1569-1577.

What is PsychChat?

Dr Austin Aloysius Tay is the Founder and Principal Consultant of OmniPsi Consulting (www.omnipsi.com), an organisational psychology practice bridging Asia and the UK. A Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) and Fellow of both the British Psychological Society and the Hong Kong Psychological Society, he holds a PhD in Organisational Psychology and an LLM in International and Commercial Law, and is an ICF PCC Coach, EMCC Senior Practitioner, and ACT Practitioner.

With over 30 years of commercial experience across pharma, financial services, FMCG, legal, telecoms, and international NGOs, Austin works across workplace psychology, psychometrics and assessment, leadership effectiveness, workplace bullying, evidence-based coaching, outplacement services, and ACT.

In each episode of PsychChat, Austin explores the psychology of work through a practitioner's lens, offering research-backed insight for leaders, HR professionals, and coaches navigating the complexities of modern organisational life.

Email psychchat@omnipsi.com or connect via X @psych_chat with comments or suggestions.