Definition
Hanlon's razor advises against assuming hostile intent when ordinary human error explains the situation just as well. When someone misses a deadline, sends a curt message, or makes a mistake that affects you, the most probable cause is usually a bad day, a misunderstanding, or limited information — not a plot against you.
It is a sibling of Occam's razor applied to other people's behavior. Malice is a complex, demanding explanation; it requires planning, motive, and follow-through. Carelessness and incompetence are far more common, so they are the better default assumption.
Why it matters
How it works
When you feel wronged, pause and ask whether incompetence, miscommunication, or circumstance could fully explain what happened. Usually it can. Acting on the charitable assumption tends to de-escalate the situation and preserve the relationship.
The razor is not naivety. If evidence of a deliberate pattern accumulates, you update toward malice. But you start from the more probable, less inflammatory explanation.