The Comfort Trap: Why Engineering Teams Choose Easy Over Accurate

Abstract

Engineering teams frequently gravitate toward explanations that are cognitively easy, intuitive, and psychologically comforting, even when more complex interpretations are better supported by evidence. This phenomenon—cognitive ease—acts as a predictable attractor state under uncertainty, time pressure, and social constraints. This paper examines how cognitive ease shapes engineering judgement, influences diagnostic reasoning, and contributes to oversimplified narratives during commissioning, problem-solving, and safety decision-making. A research agenda is proposed for integrating cognitive-ease analysis into engineering education, design reviews, risk assessments, and organisational learning.