Devil’s Advocacy
The Basic Idea
Before the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, internal messages intercepted from Japan revealed that the Japanese planned to attack the Pacific region. A warning was sent to officers stationed at Pearl Harbor, however, they were not taken seriously. Officers doubted Japan would attack first, and were confident that the US would be able to destroy Japanese fleets if there were an attack. We now know this confidence was mistaken and recognize the Pearl Harbor attack as the catalyst that caused the US to enter World War II.1
What could have been done differently? The Americans thinking they were invulnerable and not questioning the proposed decision are the main reasons attributed to this historical incident.1 Had someone purposefully doubted the opinion of the majority, perhaps history could have taken a different turn. Pearl Harbor needed a devil’s advocate.
A challenge to the majority position actually liberates people.
– Charlan J. Nemeth
About the Author
Adrienne Fu
Adrienne Fu is a student at McGill University studying Economics, Computer Science, and Psychology. She is passionate about behavioural economics, particularly its intersection with consumer decision-making and UX Design. Outside of the (virtual) office, she enjoys film photography, reading, and taking care of her (many) plants.
