Path dependence and routines: A threat to capability development

Abstract

This article introduces the concept path dependence based on case illustrations mainly from psychiatric health care. The concept path dependence is widely used in economic research, history, social sciences and law, but so far seldom in psychology and health care, although equally applicable here. Two variants of path dependence, one in a narrow sense and one in a broader sense are defined and exemplified by case illustrations from psychiatric health care and patient safety systems.