Driving under the influence (DUI) is illegal in most countries because, although it does not always result in accidents, injuries, or death, it significantly increases the risk of harm - not only to the driver, but also to everyone else on the road.

Still, for varied reasons, many people choose to drive while intoxicated. Some believe alcohol or drugs do not impair their judgment and driving ability. They become overconfident, especially if they have done it before without consequences. They think they  can reach their destination safe and sound. However, soon reality catches up. What feels safe or manageable eventually leads to tragedy, injury, legal trouble, or loss of life. False confidence and distorted thinking often collapse when confronted by real-world consequences.

TUI, a danger to fair and excellent public service

A similar dynamic can occur in everyday thinking and decision-making. This kind of thinking has been described as TUI, or “Thinking Under the Influence,” a term coined by Brenda Allen. TUI refers to the way hidden assumptions, biases, and internalized beliefs can shape how people interpret reality. These influences may lead individuals to unfair conclusions, stereotypes, or discriminatory behaviors without even realizing it.

Like someone under the influence while driving, people influenced by hidden biases may believe they are being objective, fair, and reasonable when they are not. They may  assume their decisions align with organizational values, ethical and professional standards, or public expectations, even when those decisions unintentionally harm others. Eventually reality also catches up - through complaints, damaged relationships, public criticism, or legal consequences.

Of course, all human thinking is influenced by something. Our perspectives are shaped by genetics, upbringing, culture, education, life experiences, and the environments we live in. Longstanding debates about “nature versus nurture” reflect how deeply both biology and life experience affect the way we see and react to the world.

Being influenced, in itself, is not necessarily negative. However, problems arise when those influences distort reality, cause unnecessary harm, and violate principles such as fairness, dignity, and respect for others. Like in DUI, too much intoxication with reality-distorting thoughts may lead to completely “unreal world” in our minds and emotions, which can become the basis of our attitudes, decisions, and actions in the real world.

Ignorance is not just absence of information

Superimposing the unreal onto the real world is the definition of ignorance. I remember a joke early in my career as a public servant. A governor asked why inflation was rising rapidly. A technical staff replied, “Sir, it is the law of supply and demand.” The governor snapped at the staff, “Well, let us abolish the law of supply and demand.”

As public servants, we should be on guard for TUI to avoid compromising fair and excellent public service delivery, policymaking, investment programming, and resource stewardship. Serving with integrity, accountability, excellence, creativity, and professionalism rings easily, but it is challenging when we are under a heavy dose of hidden assumptions, biases, and internalized beliefs. While most of our hidden assumptions and unconscious biases come from personal socialization and life experiences, they can be reinforced and prompted by our professional experiences, such as organizational culture and In-group/Out-group dynamics, e.g., a person with integrity in a sea of liars is perceived as “sick.”

TUI prevention and remedies

There are things that we can take to protect ourselves from TUI, especially in our most unguarded moments when we are relaxing in our personal time and watching and listening to media. Yes, our favorite media, entertainment, social circles, and online spaces may be the rule rather than the exception in leading us into TUI.

We can develop emotional self-defense. Instead of allowing anger, fear, and the desire for the easy and convenient way to control our thinking and action, we can learn to pause and be guided by objective facts and behaviors. For example, some behaviors are more cultural than evidence of honesty and integrity. Looking down when being spoken to is interpreted as evasive and dishonest in many Western cultures, while in many Asian, African, and Latin American cultures, it can reflect respect, attentiveness, and humility.

We can triangulate the truth. In addition to checking the source of our information for trustworthiness, we can use three different independent sources. In Venn diagram terms, the truth probably is the intersection.

We can be careful of “both-sidesing,” where facts and opinions are given equal weight. People who want to please everybody are most vulnerable to both-sidesing. Facts are independent of who bears or tells them - titled or untitled person, a king, or a peasant.

Last but not least, we can develop intellectual humility. We are not free of biases. Our brains are wired to prefer information that confirms our already existing beliefs. Being self-aware is critical. We should have a conscious and objective understanding of our own emotions, motives, strengths, weaknesses, and behaviors. We must be willing to own up to our mistakes, not blaming others or computers. Even the quote from Paul Ehrlich, “To err is human, but to really foul things up requires a computer,” can be an excuse because we can really foul things up.

Like driving under the influence, thinking under the influence, or TUI, is not good for us and for the people we serve as public servants. It impairs our judgment and ability to serve fairly and excellently. Thus, when you serve, do not drink!