High denial (or, 'Defence Mechanism') in an individual is correlated
with poor capacity for situational awareness and diminished ability to
perform under stress.
What might be an essential aspect of a person's personality, an
indispensible coping mechnism for normal life, can be a liability in
the cockpit. Your denial level can be established through testing. A
very high level may be fine for ordinary living, but unacceptable in a
pilot and/or crew.
On the other hand, to the extent that one's current denial level is
learned, it can be unlearned. As Kerry Douglas points out, this can be
exceedingly challenging/risky, disturbing the psychic equilibrium, so
to speak. (Please don't flog me for jargon, Kerry, this is how pilots
talk.) That's why I advocate self-assessment - do it yourself - my
book will lead you through - and show you some self-administered
'denial-control' exercises. From the examples, you can work out your
own.
Here's what you tell the aviators in the classroom.
By learning your own denial responses, and by working up your
'cognitive fitness', you will have enhanced your potential to maintain
situational awareness. You'll also be better equipped for co-operative
crew work, especially when the pressure's on. You do this in the name
of professionalism, and your ethical code to be as stress-resilient as
you can make yourself.
If, as is likely, they won't but that, this is what you tell them:
Testing for denial is on the way. As a result of testing, a number of
pilots can be expected to hand in their licences. If you've checked
yourself out, and then worked hard on your 'cognitive fitness'
exercise program, you will have given yourself the best chance to pass
the test, when it hits.
Dave Wilson has a copy of my experiential learning seminar through
which I bring these messages - ever so gently - home to pilots.
Hope that helps.
Cheers
Doug