This is a Lexicon entry: the mechanism, when it shows up, and the countermeasure. The full correction, with real-world cases and the audit prompt, hasn't been written yet.
Definition
Primary concept: Loss Aversion. This entry examines a specific dimension; see Loss Aversion for the broader mechanism.
When it shows up
Choices where one option carries the risk of a sharp, easily-imagined regret (changing a jury verdict, swapping the lottery numbers, switching careers late). The easier it is to picture regretting the choice, the harder the choice becomes. Modern context: An engineering team delays a product decision for three months, repeatedly requesting more data - not because more data would actually resolve the uncertainty but because making the decision and being wrong feels worse than the compounding cost of the delay.
Failure mode
Decisions are made to minimise anticipated regret rather than to maximise expected outcome. Options that are safer-from-regret (sticking with defaults, choosing the path others chose) are selected even when they have lower expected value.
Countermeasure
Imagine the outcome distribution, not just the vivid regret scenario. Ask: 'Across all ways this could go, which choice has the better expected result?' Regret is about one branch; choose across all of them. When correction costs more than the bias: When anticipating regret serves as a commitment device - imagining future regret motivates present self-control. Pre-mortems and regret rehearsal are legitimate planning tools that use this response productively. The bias is a problem when it prevents optimal action; it is a resource when it models consequences accurately.
Related traps
Also connected in the map10 more, locked
Credit & first seen
DiscoveredZeelenberg, M. (1999).Anticipated regret, expected utility and actual behaviour.Journal of Behavioural Decision Making 12(2), 93-106 source ↗
Also revealed
Entry #80 of 631 in The Lexicon · see the full Lexicon