Effort justification is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when people engage in a task or activity that requires significant effort and resources. As a result, they tend to overestimate the value of the task and rationalize that the effort invested was worthwhile. This cognitive bias can lead to a reluctance to abandon the task, even when the cost of continuing outweighs the benefit. One of the key drivers of effort justification is the need for individuals to justify their actions and decisions to themselves and others. When people invest significant time and energy into a task, they feel a sense of ownership and attachment to it. This can lead them to overvalue the task and rationalize that it is more important than it actually is. Effort justification is related to other cognitive biases and logical fallacies, such as the sunk cost fallacy. The sunk cost fallacy occurs when people continue to invest in a situation due to the time and money already spent, instead of evaluating the situation objectively. Similarly, effort justification can lead people to continue investing in a task or activity, even when it no longer makes sense to do so. To overcome the effects of effort justification, individuals should strive to evaluate tasks and activities objectively, based on their true value and potential benefits. This requires a willingness to let go of the sunk costs and emotional attachment that may be clouding their judgment.
Cognitive bias, Sunk cost fallacy, Rationalization, Objectivity, Emotional attachment
Effort Justification is a way of thinking that can make it seem like things that require a lot of work are actually better than if they were easy. It's a cognitive bias - which means it's a way of thinking that influences how we make decisions - and a logical fallacy - which means that it's not based on facts. Basically, it means that when you have to work hard for something, you start to think it's even better than it really is.
Persistence, motivation, dedication, labor
Effort justification is a cognitive bias that occurs when people invest time and energy into a particular task or activity, and consequently rationalize that the task must be worthwhile. This often results in an overestimation of the value of the task or activity, and a reluctance to abandon it even when the cost of continuing outweighs the benefit. Essentially, effort justification is an attempt to justify the time, energy, and resources that have already been spent, and to protect the individual from feeling like their efforts were wasted. This phenomenon is related to other cognitive biases and logical fallacies, such as sunk cost fallacy, which occurs when people continue to invest in a situation due to the time and money already spent, instead of evaluating the situation objectively.
Effort justification, cognitive bias, sunk cost fallacy, logical fallacy.
CITATION : "Jessica Adams. 'Effort Justification.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=213619 (Accessed on July 16, 2025)"
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