ABSTRACT
Operators’ behavior within a nuclear power plant derives from institutionalized procedures. The structuring of work tasks is supported through procedure manuals as well as other regulations. The correspondent behavior does not follow the written regulations in an automated way but rather is modified through psychological processes of “redefinition.” An important research question is how safety-related subjective norms “redefine” written safety-related procedures and rules. Hackman (1970) stated that the redefinition process depends on three cognitive systems: (a) adequate or inadequate perception of the task and the circumstances, (b) the individual’s readiness for specific action, and (c) the individual’s experiences with the same or similar tasks.
