Psychological Safety

Etym. psychology (n.) 1650s, “study of the soul,” from Modern Latin psychologia, probably coined mid-16c. in Germany by Melanchthon from Latinized form of Greek psykhe- “breath, spirit, soul” + logia “study of.” Meaning “study of the mind” first recorded 1748, from Christian Wolff’s “Psychologia empirica” (1732); main modern behavioral sense is from early 1890s.

Etym. safety (n.) early 14c., from Old French sauvete “safety, safeguard; salvation; security, surety,” earlier salvetet (11c., Modern French sauveté), from Medieval Latin salvitatem (nominative salvitas) “safety,” from Latin salvus.

Definition

  • A feeling (explicit or implicit) within a simulation-based activity that participants are comfortable participating, speaking up, sharing thoughts, and asking for help as needed without concern for retribution or embarrassment.
  • The perception of members of the team that the team is safe for risk taking, and mistakes will be considered learning opportunities rather than there being embarrassment or punitive consequences (Edmondson, 1999; Higgins et al, 2012).

See also: SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, SIMULATION ENVIRONMENT

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