FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATM)Human Factors and CRMMedium
At cruise altitude, an unexpected stick shaker activation catches a first officer completely off guard. For a brief moment she freezes and makes an incorrect control input before recovering and applying the proper stall recovery procedure. This initial, involuntary physiological and cognitive reaction to an unexpected event is known as:
- AConfirmation bias
- BThe startle effect
- CHazardous attitude
- DPlan continuation bias
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. The startle effect
The startle effect is the involuntary physiological and cognitive response—including a brief freeze or incorrect reflexive action—triggered by an unexpected and often threatening event. It is distinct from a learned bias like confirmation or plan continuation bias.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Confirmation bias involves selectively interpreting evidence, unrelated to a startle reaction.
- C. Hazardous attitudes are enduring personality-based thought patterns, not a momentary reflexive response.
- D. Plan continuation bias involves persisting with an existing plan, not reacting to a sudden surprise.
Startle Effect
An involuntary physiological and cognitive reaction to a sudden, unexpected, and often threatening stimulus that can momentarily impair a pilot's ability to respond correctly.
- Includes elevated heart rate, tunnel vision, and brief cognitive freeze
- Can lead to incorrect reflexive control inputs
- Startle/surprise training is now emphasized in upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT)
Memory trick: Startle = the jolt before the thought.