Hanlon's Razor is a mental model that can be used to help you make decisions in difficult situations. The principle behind Hanlon's Razor is simple: don't attribute malice to stupidity.

In other words, we should not assume that people are doing bad things on purpose. This mental model can be helpful in business and personal relationships.

Hanlon's Razor is named after Robert Hanlon, who coined the phrase in a meeting at Bell Labs in the 1970s. The principle behind Hanlon's Razor is that we should not attribute to malice that which can be explained by stupidity.

There are many potential applications for Hanlon's Razor. For example, if you are having a difficult time with a coworker, it may be helpful to apply Hanlon's Razor and assume that they are not trying to make your life difficult, but rather that they are simply lacking the skills or knowledge to communicate effectively

 In personal relationships, Hanlon's Razor can help you to understand that your partner is not necessarily trying to upset you, but may simply be acting out of ignorance or misunderstanding.

Applying Hanlon's Razor can help you to make better decisions in difficult situations. It can also help you to improve your relationships by understanding that people are not always acting maliciously.

When you apply Hanlon's Razor, you are assuming the best about people, which can lead to more productive and positive interactions. Try applying Hanlon's Razor the next time you are facing a difficult situation, and see how it can help you to find a better way forward.