# PS 101: Fundamentals

*Tom Geraghty · History & Foundations, Models & Critique*

A foundational explainer of psychological safety: the belief, held in a group, that we are safe to take interpersonal risks — to speak up with ideas, questions, concerns and mistakes without suffering negative social or professional consequences. First brought to prominence by Amy Edmondson in 1999, it is framed here as the bedrock on which organisations build a culture of openness, learning and continuous improvement, and as an interpersonal climate where candour is encouraged and vulnerability is treated not as weakness but as a contribution. The piece works through what psychological safety is and is not, why it matters for innovative, resilient and effective teams, and how it underpins high performance — serving as an accessible entry point (and an on-ramp to the courses) for readers new to the concept. A 'start here' overview rather than a deep argument.

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## Connected concepts (3)

- [What is PS?](https://explore.psychsafety.com/n/about-psychological-safety.md)
- [Definition of PS](https://explore.psychsafety.com/n/the-definition-of-psychological-safety.md)
- [Psychological Safety 101 Course](https://explore.psychsafety.com/n/psychological-safety-101-course.md)