Cognitive Diversity

Cognitive diversity is the variety of mental models, problem-solving heuristics, and epistemic frameworks present in a group or organization. It is distinct from demographic diversity, though the two are often correlated. Cognitive diversity is a structural resource for epistemic resilience: groups with diverse cognitive styles are more likely to detect anomalies, challenge assumptions, and generate novel solutions.

The concept is central to resilience engineering and the design of decision-making bodies. Groups that lack cognitive diversity are prone to groupthink and confirmation bias, even when their members are individually intelligent.