Which bias describes the desire to remain in the current state to avoid change?

• A. Commitment bias
• B. Emotional investment
• C. Status quo bias
• D. Sunk cost

Answer: (C)

Status quo bias describes the tendency to prefer things to stay the same and to resist changes. People with this bias see the current situation as a baseline and often perceive the potential downsides of changing as outweighing the potential benefits, which leads to inertia. It shows up in decisions when you keep an existing option, routine, or policy even if a better alternative is available, simply because change feels risky or uncomfortable.

For example, a person might keep their current software setup instead of switching to a newer, more efficient version, even if the update saves time. The hesitation isn’t about the new option being worse in every case; it’s about the perceived costs of changing—learning the new system, potential glitches, or disruption to familiar workflows.

Understanding related biases helps separate them: commitment bias is about sticking with a prior decision because you’ve already committed to it; emotional investment involves attachment to outcomes due to feelings; sunk cost is about continuing a venture because you’ve already invested resources. These can influence decisions alongside status quo bias, but they don’t specifically describe the preference to avoid change itself.