In a blogpost entitled Sunk-Cost Fallacy, I addressed illogical and unreasonable beliefs regarding investment into a matter based on the fact that one’s resources have already been devoted and may otherwise be lost if a person stops continuing to contribute more assets to the cause.
This unhelpful attitude and resulting nonadaptive behavior doesn’t take into consideration the totality of loss already involved in the further investment to a costly endeavor. Thus, a sunk-cost approach to living is irrational.
As an example, suppose that in your marriage you unhelpfully believe, “Arguing with my partner hasn’t helped in the past, but I really want to plead my case in order to be understood. Therefore, I must debate this topic, because being misunderstood is something I can’t stand!”
Sinking more of your time, energy, and emotion into a demonstrably ineffective strategy can result in a significant cost to your intimate partner relationship. Still, when I point out this matter to you, you irrationally conclude, “But I’ve always done this,” so why stop now, right?
Not always are people aware of how absurd the sunk-cost fallacy is when unproductively using such reasoning. Sometimes, it takes a crude disputational lesson in order for them to realize how silly their behavior truly is. In Creative Marriage, one such dispute is used thusly (page 128):
The mere fact […] that you have eaten horse manure for thirty years, without ever quite realizing what kind of food it was, is no excuse for continuing to eat it forever.
Are you prepared to position yourself behind a horse, slap it on the ass, and feast upon whatever is expelled from its backside? No? But you’ve always done so. Why stop now?
I admit that this is a vulgar mental image. Still, I invite you to think about this lesson next time you’re using the sunk-cost fallacy. If arguing with your spouse hasn’t proven useful during many past occasions, then maybe it’s time to stop ingesting the horse shit you’ve indulged for so long.
If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
Ellis, A. and Harper, R. A. (1961). Creative Marriage. The Institute For Rational Living, Inc. Retrieved from https://www.pdfdrive.com/creative-marriage-e184052310.html
Hollings, D. (2022, October 31). Demandingness. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/demandingness
Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer
Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better
Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/
Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching
Hollings, D. (2023, January 8). Logic and reason. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/logic-and-reason
Hollings, D. (2022, December 2). Low frustration tolerance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/low-frustration-tolerance
Hollings, D. (2024, September 27). My attitude. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/my-attitude
Hollings, D. (2024, June 2). Nonadaptive behavior. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/nonadaptive-behavior
Hollings, D. (2024, April 22). On disputing. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-disputing
Hollings, D. (2023, September 3). On feelings. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-feelings
Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist
Hollings, D. (2023, June 6). Sunk-cost fallacy. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/sunk-cost-fallacy
Hollings, D. (2025, February 28). To try is my goal. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/to-try-is-my-goal
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