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A Qualitative Systematic Review on the Application of the Normalisation of Deviance Phenomenon Within High-Risk Industries

The concept of normalisation of deviance describes the gradual acceptance of deviant observations and practices. It was first coined in the 1990’s following a detailed examination of the Challenger space shuttle disaster. The phenomenon is founded upon the gradual desensitisation to risk experienced by individuals or groups who recurrently deviate from standard operating procedure without encountering negative consequences. Since its inception, normalisation of deviance has seen extensive, but segmented, application across numerous high-risk industrial contexts. Application and research of the phenomenon across these contexts has not yet been synthesised, resulting in a gap within the present literature that limits our understanding of its theoretical application. Consequently, the current paper describes a systematic review of the existing literature on the topic of normalisation of deviance within high-risk industrial settings. The aim of the review was to obtain an understanding of the concept’s application and evolution, synthesise common findings, and identify the nature and limitations of current methodology. The review process identified 34 papers that met all inclusion criteria. Based on the review an initial conceptual framework was developed to encapsulate identified themes and their interactions; key themes linked to normalisation of deviance included risk normalisation, production pressure, culture, and a lack of negative consequences. While preliminary, the present framework offers relevant insights into the phenomenon that may help guide future analysis using primary data sources and aid in the development of intervention methods.