According to this psychological concept, the more we invest -- whether it be money, time, or emotions -- the less likely we are to abandon our initial choices.
There are many examples of the sunk cost fallacy in action.
For example, if you've invested $10,000 in a women's studies degree even though you recognize your job prospects following graduation are looking a tad bleak, you're likely to press on.
Or, perhaps you've been waiting in the same line at the grocery store for nearly 10 minutes while others around you speed by. You've waited this long, so you refuse to budge.
Or maybe you insist on getting through the final two chapters of the mediocre book you're reading, or wrapping up the last season of the show you've been watching for several years.
After we commit, we tend to bind ourselves to our own decisions, and relationships are no exception.
Many of us can admit to staying in a damaging relationship far longer than we should have.
Once you've been with someone for two, five, ten years, it only becomes more and more difficult to let go.
We think of all the time, energy, and emotions we've invested and dread the possibility of seeing it all go to waste.
Then there's the daunting prospect of having to start all over with someone new who may very well turn out to be worse than our current partner.
The unknown can seem scarier than being in an unsatisfying relationship with someone we've come to know like the back of our hand.
As difficult as it may be to break routine and let go, if you've done all you can to right the ship to no avail, it may be time to take this life-changing step.
Whether selfishness, indifference, disloyalty or complacency has made it obvious that the relationship's best days are behind it, life is too short to be unhappy.
Partners have two clear-cut options: Work together to save the relationship, or part ways.
Sadly, many couples opt to stay together for the kids, for financial reasons, or simply to avoid loneliness, and they wind up as disgruntled roommates.
Change is difficult, but it might be exactly what we need in order to enrich our lives. Yes, you've made a huge financial and emotional investment in the individual, but don't think of it as a poor one.
After all, chances are that person made you happy at one point, you may have had your loving kids with them (which you would never take back), and you learned valuable lessons you can take with you into your next relationship. No regrets!
That being said, keep the sunk cost fallacy in mind the next time you're tempted to hang on to a toxic or otherwise unfulfilling relationship.
Sometimes calling it quits is the way to go!
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