What is the difference between the sunk cost fallacy and escalation of commitment?

The sunk cost fallacy can lead to an escalation of commitment (or commitment bias).

  • The sunk cost fallacy is the mistake of remaining committed to a past decision based on the misconception that the costs already incurred can be recovered.
  • An escalation of commitment is the act of increasing the resources or conviction invested in a failed course of action.

An escalation of commitment stems from fallacious sunk cost reasoning and entails committing even more time, money, effort, emotions, or conviction to a failed decision in a futile attempt to recover what has been lost.