Can Plane Accidents Have Psychological Factors?

Stating that problems related to psychology as well as cognitive functions of people can lead to accidents, Prof. Dr. Muzaffer Çetinguç made evaluations about accidents and flight safety, especially in the field of aviation. prof. Dr. Muzaffer Çetinguç pointed out that there are 12 risky elements and behavioral patterns in the background of dangerous thoughts and behaviors in the brain.

The guest of the Multidisciplinary Scientific Meeting, which is held every week at Üsküdar University NPİSTANBUL Brain Hospital, Üsküdar University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Department of Psychology Lecturer Prof. Dr. Muzaffer Çetinguç became

In the presentation with the title of "A Dozen of Risk Elements, Thinking and Behavior Patterns - Gremlins"; The background of dangerous thoughts and behaviors in our brains and how these emotions can lead to accidents in the aviation industry were explained. In the presentation, the subject was examined from a psychological point of view by giving examples from some plane crashes of unknown cause.

Gremites were held responsible for inexplicable malfunctions.

prof. Dr. Muzaffer Çetinguç stated that the dictionary meaning of Gremlin is a "cute-looking but evil natured genie" and stated that "The scapegoats of pilots and engineers in flight accidents in the Second World War were Gremlins, who were believed to have broken the machines. In particular, no one had any doubts that these genies were responsible for the inexplicable malfunctions. They seriously believed it. Today, technical and human factors that cause flight accidents are known; The search for crime in unscientific places has been abandoned.” said.

Obsessive thoughts, fears, and anxieties can cause an accident.

Expressing that the rate of human factor in flight accidents is 70-80%, Prof. Dr. Muzaffer Çetingüç said, “This may seem reasonable back then, but what is this figure today? It still is. Despite the introduction of so many automation systems and artificial intelligence into cockpits today, the human element is still around 70-80%. The fact that the human element is at such a high rate probably indicates that the problems related to the psychology of the human as well as the cognitive functions continue. This means that if we go from the concept of Gremlin, there is no genie outside, the demons are in our brains. These are also referred to as psychological bugs, internal zombies. Also called microprocessors. Some obsessive thoughts, fears, anxiety and complexes in our brain can lead to accident or disaster.” said.

12 risky behavior patterns

prof. Dr. Muzaffer Çetingüç described the thinking and behavioral disorders that have the potential to create risks in human psychology as Gremlin and gathered them under 12 titles based on this metaphor. Noting that a classification of 1984 dangerous thought patterns was made in the scientific article prepared by an aviation university in the USA in 5, Prof. Dr. Muzaffer Çetinguç said, “These are listed as anti-authority, impulsiveness, macho attitude, submission and invulnerability. This is too little for me. As a result of the research done to see what else can be added, the susceptibility to accident (clumsiness) came to my mind. I added 7 more patterns as traumaticity, unconscious suicide, contraphobia, positive feedback dissatisfaction, habit trap, and lack of initiative.” said.

Stating that clumsy people are more likely to have an accident, Üsküdar University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Department of Psychology Lecturer Prof. Dr. Muzaffer Çetinguç stated that some people are consciously or unconsciously prone and willing to experience traumatic experiences. prof. Dr. Noting that anti-fear attitudes, which he explains as contraphobia, can also lead to accidents, Muzaffer Çetingüç said, “The effort of the individual to constantly convey the message that he is not afraid to the people around him, people who are in over-compensation efforts against fear in their brains can have an accident. High-speed driving, unnecessary fights, dangerous sports, unnecessary daring in flight, and risky maneuvers can lead to accidents.” said.

There are more than 12 thoughts and behaviors

Stating that there are more than a dozen dangerous thoughts and behaviors that constitute a risk factor in aviation, Prof. Dr. Muzaffer Çetinguç said that ambitions, fears, obsessions, delusions, complexes, superstitions, compulsive behaviors and panic can also lead to accidents.

Insight is a requirement of safe living.

prof. Dr. Muzaffer Çetinguç stated that insight is not only a necessary concept in flight safety and said, “It is also one of the requirements of a safe, healthy and harmonious life in daily life. An insightful person is one who knows what he is doing and why, and can correct his mistakes by noticing them.” said.