As long as it takes – psychological entrapment

Have you ever found yourself sticking with a decision, even when it’s clearly not working out? Like you’d put so much into it, you couldn’t walk away? If so, you may have experienced psychological entrapment. Holding yourself captive within your own choice despite the lack of positive outcomes – is the essence of psychological entrapment.

Understanding psychological entrapment

Psychological entrapment occurs when we continue to commit time, money, or effort to a failing course of action because of our previous investments. In other words, we keep throwing good resources after bad, hoping to justify our initial choice or recoup our losses.

We’re talking here about a mental trap. A feeling of being stuck not because of external circumstances but because of all the time, effort, and resources we’ve already invested in something.

Imagine a gambler at a casino who’s losing badly. Yet, he keeps telling himself he’s due for a win. He’s spent too much to quit now. He will continue – as long as it takes. That’s what entrapment is – being a slave to your own previous choices.

Psychological entrapment is a powerful force that can affect anyone, from individuals to entire nations. The more we invest in something, the harder it becomes to let go, even when logic tells us we should. People become emotionally attached to their choices, even the bad ones.

How people get trapped

Psychological entrapment is not about being stubborn. It’s about the way our minds work. We’re hardwired to avoid losses more than we seek gains. So, we cling to what we’ve already put in, hoping to turn things around.

At the heart of this phenomenon lies the sunk cost fallacy. It is a cognitive bias where we overvalue things we’ve already invested in, regardless of their current worth. Thus, we may continue with something even when abandoning it would be more beneficial.

Why Does It Happen?

Several factors contribute to psychological entrapment:

1. Loss aversion: We tend to feel the pain of sudden losses more acutely than the pleasure of gains. Giving up feels like admitting defeat, and it hurts. Enduring a lower level of pain in the long run feels more acceptable.
2. Self-justification: We want to prove to ourselves (and others) that our initial decision was correct.
3. Fear of waste: Abandoning a project or relationship can feel like wasting all the time and effort we’ve already invested.
4. Optimism bias: We may overestimate our chances of turning things around if we just keep trying.

From bad relationships to failed investments

We see examples of psychological entrapment all around us.

A woman stays in a loveless marriage for years because she’s invested so much time and emotion. Moving on would feel like all the time, love and effort was wasted.

A businessman keeps pouring money into a failing project, hoping to salvage something. He keeps throwing good resources after bad, hoping to justify his initial choice or recoup his losses.

Employees stay in unfulfilling jobs just because they’ve worked there for years. The rational choice would be to cut further losses and to move over. But their minds struggle with this.

These are everyday psychological traps. We’ve all been there, clinging to a belief that things will get better if we just hold on a little longer. But sometimes, the bravest and smartest thing to do is to walk away. It’s not about giving up.  It’s about choosing a better path.

Psychological entrapment in political decisions

Psychological entrapment doesn’t just affect individuals – it can also influence political decision-making at local, national, and international levels. Then, this phenomenon may have far-reaching consequences, affecting millions of people.

The typical examples of entrapment in politics are:

Failed Public Projects: Politicians might continue to fund infrastructure projects or public initiatives that are clearly failing or over budget, rather than admitting a mistake and cutting losses. This often results in continuously allocating taxpayer money to projects that do not yield the promised benefits, further eroding public trust and finances.

Outdated Policies: Policymakers may cling to ineffective laws or regulations because of the political capital invested in creating them, even when evidence shows they’re not working.

International Agreements: Nations might remain in unfavorable international agreements or alliances due to the diplomatic effort already expended, even if withdrawing would be more beneficial. This could lead to strained resources, compromised national interests, and sometimes even involvement in conflicts that do not align with a country’s primary objectives.

All this usually happens because of the fear that changing course will be seen as an admission of failure, potentially damaging politicians’ reputation or re-election chances. And sometimes, it happens just because of an ideological commitment – a strong belief in a particular ideology that makes it difficult to abandon related policies, even when they’re harmful.

Psychological entrapment and war

The consequences of psychological entrapment at the political level might be apocalyptic. Countries can get bogged down in wars, just like individuals in bad relationships.

These situations often start with clear objectives but can evolve into protracted engagements with shifting goals and mounting costs. Conflicting parts pour in troops, money, and resources, hoping for victory. As casualties and financial costs increase, leaders feel compelled to continue or even escalate the conflict to justify previous losses.

The initial goals become blurred. The pressure to justify the sacrifices already made intensifies, and this is when the trap snaps shut.

Leaders fear appearing weak if they withdraw. They cling to the hope of a turnaround, even when the situation seems hopeless. They are in too deep to quit now. They will continue – as long as it takes…

Breaking free from psychological entrapment

The good news is that we can break free from psychological entrapment. The bad news is that it requires courage – the courage to face reality.

Entrapment blinds us to the consequences of our actions. The first step to breaking free then is to track the actual outcomes, the facts. If the facts require interpretation, it is wise to seek advice from different sources to get a well-rounded perspective.

The second rule is to set a limit on invested resources. Never tell yourself you will continue anything “as long as it takes.” This is the very definition of psychological entrapment. Set clear budgets or deadlines for the desired outcomes.

And first of all, be always honest with yourself.