Status quo bias

Decision biases biases

Status quo bias is the tendency to prefer things to stay as they are. We overweight the drawbacks of change and underweight the drawbacks of staying put, so we stick with the current situation even when change would be better. It affects choices about jobs, providers, and habits.

Examples

  • You keep the same bank account for years despite higher fees and worse service, because switching feels like more effort and risk than it is.

  • You stay in a job you don't enjoy because leaving would mean uncertainty, even when opportunities elsewhere are clearly better.

  • Your phone contract renews on expensive terms because you don't switch to a cheaper plan; the default is to do nothing.

  • A committee keeps an old policy because changing it would require discussion and possible conflict, so the downsides of the policy are tolerated.

  • You keep using an old software package out of habit, even though a newer alternative would save time and cost little to learn.

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