In the current series of blogs I'm discussing the role of compensation in the unconscious in teamwork.  Before discussing some specific examples, I want to explain how the principle works using the example of 4x4s or SUVs (four wheel drives or Sports Utility Vehicles).  The principle is of fundamental importance in understanding team dynamics and the SUV example provides a clear and simple illustration.

The principle of compensation (according to Carl Jung's theory) is that whenever we do anything consciously there is something compensatory that happens unconsciously.  This is almost the psychological equivalent of Newtonian mechanics: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.  However, Jung's theory focuses on the action taking place in consciousness and the compensatory reaction taking place in the unconscious.

We can see a simple illustration of this principle in the debate over SUVs and safety.  For example, in a recent Daily Mail article, Julie Wheldon, their science correspondent, reported on a study of SUV drivers and road safety.  It is clear in the report that, consciously, SUV drivers are focused on safety.  In fact, the desire to be safe is one of the motivations for buying an SUV and, once behind the wheel, SUV drivers feel safer than in other cars. I can vouch for this myself having owned one myself, 15 years ago.   Also, almost all SUV drivers believe that the safest way to drive is by holding the steering wheel in the "ten to two" position.  This is the 'conscious' part of the equation.

Unconsciously, however, it is a very different story.  They study showed that SUV drivers were 55 percent more likely than other drivers to drive with only one hand on top of the steering wheel.  In fact, half of SUV drivers were observed to use that unsafe technique: the feeling of safety lulled them into a false sense of security.  Only a quarter of SUV drivers recognised that they did this, perhaps reinforcing the point that, for many, this is an unconscious behaviour.

Another unconscious and "compensatory" (opposite) impact of the focus on safety is that SUV drivers present much greater danger for other road users.  Research suggests that 2,000 people killed in accidents in the US would still be alive today if their vehicles had been hit by a heavy car instead of an SUV.  That research also suggests that there are other dangers for SUV drivers that are overlooked, such as the threefold increase in risk of the car rolling in an accident.

This SUV example hopefully illustrates the principle of compensation.  If I consciously take care of safety then there is something compensatory that arises that is unconscious: reduced safety of other road users and for oneself in unrecognised areas.  This is not an argument for getting rid of SUVs or for ignoring safety, but rather it highlights the value of looking outside our own conscious standpoint to obtain a more complete picture, which enables better-informed decision making.  This is not only of relevance for individuals, but has important implications for teamwork and interpersonal relationships, which I'll look at in the next few blogs.