Strengheidbias

Strengheidbias is a term used in Dutch-language discussions to describe a cognitive bias in which people overestimate the rigidity or strictness of rules, norms, or systems, and overemphasize the need for unyielding procedures. This can lead to resistance to change and inflexibility in judgment or decision making.

The word combines strengheid, meaning rigidity or strictness, with bias, reflecting a tendency to perceive or enforce inflexibility as more appropriate or necessary than warranted. In English-language discussions the term is not widely standardized, but it is used to discuss how perceptions of rigidity shape evaluations of policies, organizations, or social norms.

Mechanisms contributing to strengheidbias include reliance on rule-based schemas, fear of uncertainty, and identity-based defenses of established institutions. Cultural norms that valorize discipline and order can reinforce the tendency, while cognitive load or time pressure may push people toward defaulting to strict interpretations of rules.

Manifestations of strengheidbias may include an undue emphasis on formal procedures, difficulty accommodating new information, and attributing deviations from norms to incompetence or threat rather than to situational flexibility. It can manifest in organizational contexts as resistance to innovative practices or to adaptive governance.

Measurement and evidence for strengheidbias are still developing. Researchers might use surveys assessing attitudes toward change and rule compliance, or experiments presenting flexible versus strict protocol choices. The concept is related to, but distinct from, status quo bias, conservatism bias, and conformity, and faces critiques for potential overlap with legitimate safety or compliance considerations and for varying cross-cultural applicability.