Decision-Making Biases
Status quo bias
Preferring things to stay as they are.
What Is Status quo bias?
Status quo bias is a thinking trap where preferring things to stay as they are.
How It Tricks You
It can make one option feel obvious before the tradeoffs have been checked.
Real-World Example
An employee sticks with an old tool because changing workflows feels annoying.
Seen Online As
- Changing it sounds riskier than leaving it alone.
- This is how we have always done it.
- The current option feels safer mostly because it is current.
What To Ask Instead
Would I choose this if it were not already the default?
Related Thinking Traps
Common Situations
Quick FAQ
What is Status quo bias?
Preferring things to stay as they are.
What is an example of Status quo bias?
An employee sticks with an old tool because changing workflows feels annoying.
How do I spot Status quo bias?
Would I choose this if it were not already the default?