“Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.”
– Hanlon’s Razor
Hanlon’s Razor can be extremely useful not just in your professional life but in all aspects of communication. It is a philosophical razor (a theory that allows us to eliminate or “shave off” unlikely explanations for an event
The theory is that whenever another person behaves in such a way that negatively effects you, do not assume the intention was malicious, purposeful or negative. There could be other explanations for their actions such as incompetence or carelessness. They may not know any better or not realise that it is having any impact on you. You also could be subconsciously biased toward the person.
Some questions to ask yourself if you believe someone is acting negatively or inappropriately are:
- Could there be a different logical explanation for this behaviour?
If so, what could be the reason the other person behaved this way? - Is there any evidence that the person has intended to harm or negatively effect others?
- Is it possible that I am incorrect?
Hanlon’s Razor is important for all communication but can be especially useful in the classroom. Below are some examples that I have used in my own classroom.
| Student Behaviour | Common Teacher Response | Hanlon’s Razor Response | Logical Explanation |
| Student A is out of their seat. | “Student A, please sit down!” | “Student A. Do you need something?” | The student was out of their seat trying to borrow a pencil from a classmate. |
| Student B has spoken inappropriately to someone. | “Student B, we don’t talk that way in this classroom!” | “Student B, did you realise that these words could cause harm?” | The student is spoken to like this at home and doesn’t know any differently. |
| Student C is talking during a teacher-led portion of the lesson. | “Student C, please be quiet while others are talking.” | “Student C, was there something you needed or wanted to add?” | The student did not understand what they should be doing and was asking a classmate who also did not understand. |
Of course, sometimes our assumptions are correct. I am not trying to say that all of your students are angels. There are times that student’s negative behaviours do not have a valid reason. Nevertheless, by remembering Hanlon’s Razor, we can find out the intentions or causes in a kinder and more accepting way.
Caitlin Clock 
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