#35: The Road Often Taken

Adding an extra dose of behavioral science to your week with our series In a Nutshell— a collection of behavioral science principles, explained in 150 words or less, written weekly by CUBIC director Allison Zelkowitz.

Imagine you are given a choice: you can choose to have a new boss (one you don’t know), or you can keep the boss you have. 

Who would you choose?

I’m guessing that most of you chose to keep the one you have.  

 Status quo bias is the human tendency to like things to stay the same, resulting in resistance to change. This bias can lead to faster decision-making, especially when we face difficult choices, but it also means that we don’t effectively weigh alternatives or make optimal decisions. We stick with the safer option because we worry we’ll regret taking a riskier one.

We can address this bias if we first recognize when it’s happening, and list and evaluate our options. Additionally, when trying to persuade others to try something new, describe the potential positive outcome in detail, and reframe remaining with the status quo as a lost opportunity.