Why do we always choose the same old thing, even when other options that might be better are available? We’re stuck in a rut and can’t break free.
Do you belong to the group that prefers to remain with the current option or status quo?
Although diversity is considered the zest of life, we sometimes follow a routine and adhere to what we are familiar with.
Is it laziness, fear of change, or the default effect?
In this article, learn about the cognitive bias known as the default effect and how to protect yourself from it.
Understanding the Default Effect
The default effect is a cognitive bias that describes our tendency to stick with the default option rather than actively choosing an alternative.
Have a friend who subscribes to this weekly magazine which she has lost interest in reading but pays for it simply because she never got around to canceling the subscription! Here the default option is to continue paying for the subscription, as she has yet to choose to cancel it actively. This tendency is often due to the perceived effort required to change or switch from the default option.
Many online sites will automatically sign customers up for recurring monthly delivery of certain products, With their “Save and Subscribe” options. However, choosing to cancel the subscription is usually cleverly buried deep within the website. Taking advantage of this default effect by making it more effortful for customers to cancel the subscription than to continue with the deliveries.
Tackling the default effects and avoiding unnecessary subscriptions or services requires us to actively evaluate other options and make intentional choices rather than relying on default or automatic options. Doing this frees up mental resources and helps us make better decisions overall.
The Exploited and The Exploiters
The default effect is a cognitive bias that can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, occupation, or other factors. However, those who take advantage of it may be more likely to hold positions of power or privilege. People in such situations may have more control over the established norms and therefore benefit from people sticking to those norms.
On the other hand, typical victims of the default effect may include those without access to adequate information or resources to make informed decisions. They may also need more autonomy to break away from established standards or challenge existing systems.
Day To Day Default Effect
- Eating out at the same restaurant and mostly ordering the most popular dish on the menu, even though you may not like it the most.
- Upon registering for a new service, you agree to all pre-set terms and conditions without going through them beforehand.
- Social media privacy settings with default privacy settings allow others to see users’ posts and personal information, and users must adjust these settings manually to limit their exposure or share only with certain people.
- Credit card payments that don’t inform customers to opt out of automatic balance protection or insurance programs when opening an account can result in unnecessary fees or charges if not monitored closely.
- Energy usage by some home appliances and devices may have default settings that consume more energy than necessary, such as leaving lights or electronics on standby mode, which can increase electricity bills and carbon footprints.
- Product subscriptions such as meal kits, beauty boxes, or dog toys may automatically renew subscriptions or send products by default, which can lead to unnecessary expenses or clutter if customers don’t cancel or adjust their preferences regularly.
Recognizing When You’re Slipping into the Default Effect Trap
It is recommended that you take a moment to pause and assess your decision objectively to determine if you are succumbing to the default effect. This way, you can identify whether this effect influences your decision-making process.
Ask yourself if other options suit your needs or if you default to a certain option because it is convenient. Additionally, question why this particular option is being presented to you as the default choice – could there be an underlying reason or incentive for doing so?
Overcoming the Default Effect
- Stay conscious of your decisions and analyze each option’s possible long-term outcomes.
- Consider alternative options to the default option – don’t just settle for the easy or most obvious choice.
- Practice self-discipline and pause if necessary before making choices that can significantly affect your life.
- Make decisions in collaboration with trusted people who can offer different perspectives and help make sure you don’t miss any important details during the decision-making process.
- Conduct a comprehensive investigation of all possible alternatives to make a well-informed decision based on actual facts, not assumptions or opinions from others.
- Suppose you are experiencing uncertainty regarding a particular course of action. In that case, it is advisable to step back and revisit it after a break with a clear mind to assess it more objectively.
- Before making a final decision, check in with yourself and ensure it aligns with your goals or values to ensure you won’t regret making this choice later on.
Final Thoughts
Humans are creatures of habit and have an innate inertia that makes us resistant to change. Those annoying defaults know how to push your buttons. We like routine, predictability, and familiarity. But what happens when those habits become so ingrained that they limit our potential? That’s where things get interesting. When we’re feeling indecisive, the default option is the easiest thing.
Consider this – have you ever found yourself still subscribed to a cable service far beyond the point you intended to cancel it? That’s the default way of playing its cards. But, by setting or changing the apt defaults, you are encouraged to make better choices without even realizing it.
Remember that there’s power in knowledge. You can take back control and start making informed decisions by understanding how defaults work. In case you require a little extra motivation, just think of all the times defaults have tricked you in the past.
It’s time to level the playing field and outsmart those subtle nudges. If this article was interesting and helped you choose better? Then to learn more about similar psychological phenomena, kindly subscribe to our blog.
Reference
The above article is based on the book Thinking Clearly; this article is here to help us learn and understand how our minds can be tricked by something called cognitive biases.