Descriptive self-awareness
Descriptive self-awareness refers to the creations of anomalous circumstances where attention is heightened through contrast. This enables decision-makers to develop their own novel awareness of the situation and conclusions without the need for external intervention or "preaching". The contrast can be created through the parallel presentation of different perspectives on reality (for example one created through different groups going through the same sense-making exercise) or through the contrasting of an ideal representation of reality with what actually emerges when we look at it. Crucially, this contrasting presentation needs to be accompanied by no evaluation, so conclusions are reached without external guidance.
Concept
Descriptive self-awareness is key in many complex facilitation methods, some of which are listed in the section below. The questions typically asked at the comparison stage of any activity ("What was the same?", "What was different?", "What really surprised you?") are also designed to trigger descriptive self-awareness.
The concept appears in the PAGODA mnemonic, representing key principles in complexity interventions and is especially represented by the creation of anomalies (the first A in PAGODA) through the exploration of parallel process with groups of people that lead them into situations where they have to become more aware of differences by seeing the divergent outcomes of a shared process, and therefore becoming more sensitive to differences and capable of contextually appropriate action.
Examples
In naturalizing sense-making:
- Example here
In complexity methods:
- Example here
Related
Principles
- Linked related principle here
Frameworks
- Linked related framework here
References
Articles and books
- Reference article here
Blog posts
- Dave Snowden, What is thought to be is rarely real, Cognitive Edge Blog (November 5, 2014), reference to descriptive self-awareness in the context of decision mapping and the use of SenseMaker®
- Dave Snowden, PAGODA, Cognitive Edge Blog (September 16, 2024)
- Dave Snowden, Differences that make a difference, Cognitive Edge Blog (February 27, 2024
)