Initial investment as adhesive
Time：2013/09/28 16:16:41 Hits：1439
Fait accompli are already sunk out of the
My closet has a red coat . It was the day I bought an afternoon stroll on the street , did not find a satisfactory , but not willing to take a trip to the white , it just took a lower requirement , the results coming home and found that it did not for me. However, after a few days I still wear it to work, because always felt once not wear new clothes , it is wasted money white flowers .
So I wore this damn red jacket, like red lanterns swinging in the company as a whole day .
Later, an economist friends that I made in this matter consecutive same mistake twice - to buy clothes for a long time just because shopping street, wear clothes just because took over the money. This " stupid " in behavioral decision making on science called " sunk cost fallacy ." This means that: people determine whether to do a thing, in fact, only two factors should be considered : "It will bring you much benefit " and " how much you need to pay for it costs ." However, many people are still accustomed to this thing done before the investment is also taken into account - though whether these inputs is right or wrong , are impossible to recover it.
In fact, I visited an afternoon shopping , spending out of time, energy , and swelling of the feet endure all this fait accompli , are " sunk " out . So, I decided not to buy that piece of red jacket , I should not consider these factors , but only need to compare it brought me joy and satisfaction than I will pay for it money. By the same token , buy clothes after the money has been spent , are not able to wear do not wear money and then back, then only be able to make me comfortable, looks beautiful clothes, it is a good reason to wear on the body .
In other words , rational people make decisions , actions need only compare the cost to the next step and future recoverable income. As before this thing, anyway is a constant determined , should not affect our subsequent decisions. Unfortunately, many studies have shown that normal people are often sub- rational, life, silly people like me do not everywhere ?
Always put their hopes in the " maybe " on the future of transit
Young neighbor aunt see a friend 's children piano very well , and feeling the itch , also bought a place in the living room . As the saying goes : " Horses are bought, also reluctant to saddle you ? " She asked the teacher to spend money on home counseling , can daughter Wenwen just do not like it, teachers say that children can not be forced several times , suggesting Wenwen not cut child . Yang aunt unwilling to give up so often in earnest education Wenwen : "The home took nearly ten thousand to buy a piano , we can not just be a decoration. Good piano , maybe in the future it will have results ! "
And my college classmates little care , he was in that post marketing has spent more than three years . Do not need someone to say , he also knows his own temperaments naturally suited to doing this . However, he did not try to quit courage, because he always felt that , whatever the outcome has been done for so long , and if the company really leave now , before the white waste accumulation Qibushibai yet ? Anyway, he is regarded as an old employees, wait, maybe it was his turn to enhance the future of it !
Young aunt just remember a lot of money to buy the piano , did not notice she was continuing to waste time Wenwen ; little care just saw your three years of accumulation , no one would understand that there is no hope on the seat and then wasted three years in vain . They are refusing to face reality , refused to admit previously made a mistake, but their hopes in the " maybe " on the future of transit .
Examples like this is simply too much ! Some people insist on guarding both sides uncomfortable marriage hold that divorce is a waste of time and emotion have paid ; someone clutching a continuous fall of the stock is not throwing , raw Payouyitian stock market rally that they will regret. Why is this "sunk cost fallacy " magic so great , obviously sinking into the sea of silver , but it makes it difficult to give up , refused to lift its head in front of it ?
People have a natural tendency to protect their own
Psychology "cognitive consistency " theory, just to answer this question. People cognitive behavioral objects ( including ideas, attitudes , values, evaluation, etc. ) and practical actions need to maintain coherence between , otherwise we will feel awkward and uncomfortable. For example like candy , so always buy sweets ; hate cigarette smoke, so people farther away from the smoke . Moreover , in most cases , people formed first in the mind of cognitive judgment , pursuant to a decision , then the body before taking appropriate action . So, we always do what they think is right.
However , cognitive decided action, action in turn will also affect cognition, did indeed influence our actions related to people , and things of view and evaluation. What we have done , if you encounter a beginning and an evaluation of vision is not the same , or get negative feedback , most people will instinctively defend their actions to do , try to explain the validity of the act adopted . Just like when I see myself in the mirror wearing a red jacket when bloated waist , but my mind was secretly said to myself: "is not bad , ah, at least my complexion look good ah ! " In fact, this is nothing but a self-comforting , unwilling to admit overpaying . No way, who will not easily admit that he is a fool , people have a natural tendency to protect their own .
Especially those self-confidence , self-esteem very strong person , and even more difficult to face his past behavior. Even if the reality before them plainly proved wrong, they will find a variety of reasons to convince others and themselves , trying to " get things done to continue " way to restore the "sunk cost ." Unfortunately , not long persist in the end we will certainly win, hit a brick wall do not look back , the end result can only be beaten. Indeed, it continues to recover sunk costs and additional investment , but more often lead to the eventual loss .
So, if you finally come to understand themselves doing anything wrong , do not bother stubbornly expect miracles happen , openly acknowledged good. Since it is impossible to change the past , we might just put them aside , imagine yourself choices are starting from scratch each time , only the future in their best interest to do. In this sense , "Do not cry over spilled milk " is really a classic.
Help us to abandon irrational behavior correction ?
But then again, "sunk cost " is not entirely harmful , sometimes fire with fire is also a great purpose.
Now we are very concerned about health and fitness program but we are often difficult to be implemented. Because every day there are so many things will mercilessly take away our time : overtime , doing housework , watching TV , there is need to answer the phone late at night talking to a good friend . At this time , we can give yourself in advance to set up a "sunk cost " - choose a more expensive fitness center , not a small sum to pay off , at least let you Xiangqilaijiu distressed membership fee . Thus , when we do not want to be bothered lazy when exercising , Bai Bai finger , calculate spend a lot of money for this , is likely to change his mind to leave to go.
This is because the nature of sunk costs make people reluctant to give up rationally , then abandon encounter some irrational behavior , which in turn can turn to us to pull a rational direction , so that our behavior is more faithful on the original purpose of helping us not give up halfway.
Finally tell you a joke , you know what economists do wedding ring ? Yes, sunk costs . Girl wants boyfriend Liuzaishenbian , so he is more expensive to buy their own gifts , the best is a large diamond . Over time, her boyfriend at the girl who has invested so much of the " cost ", if and back , those big diamond may become "sunk " out , of course, is even more reluctant to leave his girlfriend myself !
