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Law of the Instrument
Definition
The Law of the Instrument is a principle that describes the cognitive bias of over-relying on familiar tools or methods. This law is best expressed in the phrase, "If the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail."
Explanation
This principle was first described by Abraham Maslow and Abraham Kaplan. This law describes the tendency of individuals or organizations to rely too much on a particular tool, technique, or method, thereby missing out on better alternatives. For example, if someone relies solely on statistical analysis tools and does not consider other methods of analysis, they will miss out on effective solutions to problems by not experimenting with new perspectives or approaches.
Importance
The Law of the Instrument is relevant to problem solving and decision making. When people rely too heavily on familiar tools or methods, they may miss out on new perspectives and limit their ability to creatively respond to problems.
