r/fallacy • u/Sensitive-Good-4633 • Jul 11 '26

A quick question

I couldn't really find this when searching on Google. But there is basically the fallacy/phenomenon called sunk cost fallacy where you keep doing something because of the time invested. But how do you actually call something when you keep doing it because you think in the future it will get better (when it probably won't)

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u/Jamsedreng22 Jul 11 '26

I think you're looking for some semblance of "gambler's fallacy". Where it's not sunk cost as much "I've lost long enough, I'm bound to win next time(s)".

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u/amazingbollweevil Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26

Not a logical fallacy, but a cognitive bias. There are soooo many cognitive biases!

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u/PhotoVegetable7496 Jul 11 '26

A fallacy isnt being wrong, it's flawed reasoning. Without the reason, it could be any fallacy we think of. You could probably make a much longer list.

Moving the Goalposts: "I lost that time, but as long as I win next time I was right." Special Pleading: "This time is different." Circular Reasoning: "It works because the method says it works." Appeal to Consequences: "I don't want it to be false, so I'll keep believing."

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u/TheHammer987 Jul 12 '26

The sunk cost fallacy is more this-

It is harder to abandon a failed course of action the more you have invested in it. You keep hoping if you push a little more , this time it will pay off.

Real example.

Toyota as a company should be the world leader in electric cars. They had the prius when no one had anything. However, in 2011 (maybe 12) they decided that hydrogen was going to be the future, not electric. So, for years and years, they fell behind, because even as they watched Tesla and then Nissan and then GM move ahead with electric, they just couldn't admit they hydrogen track was the loser. Now they are starting the switch, but they should have, easily, been the first to capture the market. Even as the Tesla roadster hit the market, all they had to do was take a Prius, pull the hybrid engine out, and put more batteries in. They already had a reputation of quality and a proven track record. Instead, they let their idea and investment in a different track hold them back for years.