Omission Bias

Omission bias is a tendency to view harmful actions as worse or more morally wrong than equally harmful inactions, even when both lead to the similar negative outcomes.

Imagine you’re watching a runaway trolley heading toward five people. You could pull a lever to redirect it to another track where it would kill one person instead of five. Most people would feel that actively pulling the lever (action) feels more morally wrong than doing nothing and letting the five people die (inaction), even though more lives are lost through inaction. This famous thought experiment, known as the trolley problem, perfectly illustrates omission bias in action.

The bias stems from how our brains process responsibility and causation. When we take action, we feel directly responsible for the consequences, triggering stronger emotional responses and feelings of guilt. In contrast, when we choose inaction, we often feel less personally responsible for what happens, even though our choice not to act was equally consequential.

• Healthcare Decisions
  A doctor might hesitate to prescribe a treatment with a small risk of side effects, even if not treating the patient poses a greater risk. Similarly, parents might avoid vaccinating their children due to fear of rare side effects, despite the much higher risk of the disease itself.

• Investment Choices
  An investor might avoid selling a poorly performing stock to prevent feeling responsible for “locking in” losses, even though holding onto it could lead to greater financial harm. In this case, omission bias combines with the sunk cost fallacy.

• Professional Settings
  A manager might avoid making difficult but necessary decisions (like restructuring a failing department) because taking action feels more blameworthy than allowing problems to persist.

• Personal Relationships
  Someone might avoid having a difficult conversation with a friend about problematic behavior, preferring the discomfort of inaction over the perceived responsibility that may come when addressing the issue directly.

When facing a difficult decision, ask yourself: “Am I avoiding action because it genuinely seems worse than doing nothing, or because taking action feels more personally responsible?”

Focus on the actual outcomes rather than just how responsible you’ll feel. What would I choose if achieving the best outcome matter to me more than the feeling of responsibility and potential blame?

Remember that choosing not to act is still a choice with consequences. You’re not avoiding responsibility by doing nothing - you’re choosing a different path with its own set of outcomes.

Try asking “What would happen if everyone in my situation chose inaction?” This can help reveal whether your preference for inaction serves the greater good or just helps you avoid feeling responsible.

1. Identify Both Options Clearly: Write down what would happen if you act versus if you don’t act.
2. Evaluate Outcomes Objectively: Focus on the actual consequences rather than how each choice makes you feel about responsibility.
3. Consider Multiple Perspectives: How would others view your decision? What would you advise a friend in the same situation?
4. Use the “Future Self” Test: Imagine looking back on this decision in five years - which choice would you be more likely to regret? (regret minimization framework)