← all facts
decision making
The pain of losing is stronger than the joy of winning.
Prospect theory demonstrates that losses are weighted more heavily than equivalent gains, a phenomenon known as loss aversion.
The specific 'two-to-one' ratio is a general heuristic derived from subsequent empirical research (such as Tversky and Kahneman, 1992) rather than the original 1979 model.
You are wired to prioritize avoiding failure over achieving success.
Where this comes from
- Study
- Tversky and Kahneman (1979)
- What the check found
- The core psychological phenomenon is accurate, but the 1979 citation is inaccurate regarding the specific 'twice as heavy' quantitative claim, which stems from later empirical refinements.
- Confidence
- Solid, with limits
Related
One of these every day, and every one names the study it came from. When a finding is contested, it says so.