Have you ever made a commitment to do something and then felt like you had to follow through with it, even if it wasn't what you wanted to do? This is called the Commitment and Consistency Bias.

It is a cognitive bias that causes people to act in accordance with their commitments, even if doing so goes against their own interests.

What is the Commitment and Consistency Bias?

The Commitment and Consistency Bias is a cognitive bias that affects the way we make decisions. It causes us to act in accordance with our commitments, even if doing so goes against our own interests.

The bias is rooted in the idea of self-consistency, which is the desire to be consistent with our beliefs and actions. When we make a commitment, we want to follow through on it because it is consistent with our self-image. We see ourselves as the type of person who keeps their word, so we feel obligated to do what we said we would do.

The problem with the Commitment and Consistency Bias is that it can lead us to make decisions that are not in our best interest. We may continue with a course of action even when it is no longer working for us because we don't want to appear inconsistent. We may also stick to a decision even though we know it is wrong, simply because we made a commitment to it.

How to overcome the Commitment and Consistency Bias

The good news is that there are ways to overcome the Commitment and Consistency Bias. The first step is to become aware of the bias and how it affects your decision-making.

Once you are aware of the bias, you can start to question your decisions and commitments. Are you really committed to this course of action? Is it still the best option? If not, then it may be time to reconsider your decision.

Another way to overcome the Commitment and Consistency Bias is to change the way you think about commitments. Instead of seeing them as binding obligations, try to view them as flexible goals. This will help you to feel less pressure to follow through on your commitments, and it will allow you to change course if necessary.

The Commitment and Consistency Bias can have a big impact on our lives. It can cause us to make decisions that are not in our best interest, and it can prevent us from changing course even when we know we should.

But by becoming aware of the bias and taking steps to overcome it, we can start to make better decisions that are truly in our best interests.