# Goodhart's / Cobra Effect

*Tom Geraghty · Measurement, Power*

Explains Goodhart's Law, Campbell's Law, and the Cobra Effect — what happens when measures become targets. Applied directly to PS surveys and measurement programmes, showing how optimising for scores rather than safety produces the opposite of the intended outcome.

- **This page:** https://explore.psychsafety.com/n/goodharts-law-campbells-law-and-the-cobra-effect/
- **Read the full article on psychsafety.com:** https://psychsafety.com/goodharts-law-campbells-law-and-the-cobra-effect/
- **Interactive map:** https://explore.psychsafety.com/?node=goodharts-law

## Connected concepts (19)

- [Thinking About Process Safety Indicators](https://explore.psychsafety.com/n/hopkins-2009.md) (paper)
- [A Question of Trust](https://explore.psychsafety.com/n/oneill-2002.md) (paper)
- [Analysis of the Iridium 33-Cosmos 2251 Collision](https://explore.psychsafety.com/n/kelso-2009.md) (paper)
- [Dysfunctional Consequences of Performance Measurements](https://explore.psychsafety.com/n/ridgway-1956.md) (paper)
- [Principles of Ethical Measurement](https://explore.psychsafety.com/n/principles-of-ethical-measurement-in-organisations.md)
- [Qualitative Measurement of PS](https://explore.psychsafety.com/n/qualitative-measurement-of-psychological-safety.md)
- [The Strange Confidence of 360° Feedback](https://explore.psychsafety.com/n/the-strange-confidence-of-360-degree-feedback.md)
- [Academic Fraud & Data Dishonesty](https://explore.psychsafety.com/n/academic-fraud-data-and-dishonesty.md)
- [Beyond Metrics](https://explore.psychsafety.com/n/beyond-metrics.md)
- [Four Stages Critique](https://explore.psychsafety.com/n/the-four-stages-of-psychological-safety.md)
- [Measuring PS](https://explore.psychsafety.com/n/measure-psychological-safety.md)
- [PS Index Critique](https://explore.psychsafety.com/n/the-psychological-safety-index-a-critical-look.md)
- [Streetlight Effect](https://explore.psychsafety.com/n/the-streetlight-effect.md)
- [The Case Against Grades](https://explore.psychsafety.com/n/kohn-2011.md) (paper)
- [The SANE Effect](https://explore.psychsafety.com/n/the-sane-effect.md)
- [Weaponisation of PS](https://explore.psychsafety.com/n/psychological-safety-65-weaponisation-of-psychological-safety.md)
- [Coffees for Closers](https://explore.psychsafety.com/n/psychological-safety-69-coffees-for-closers.md)
- [Fist of Five Critique](https://explore.psychsafety.com/n/the-fist-of-five.md)
- [Reflections Pt 3: The Safety to Dissent](https://explore.psychsafety.com/n/reflections-part-three.md)