Decoy Effect
A deliberately inferior option makes a nearby option look like the smart pick.
Evidence: well established. We label every concept honestly, and say so when it's a teaching model. How we rate evidence.
Shrink Definition
The decoy effect is when adding a third, clearly worse option changes which of the original two we prefer. The decoy isn't meant to be chosen, it's there to make one option look better by comparison. It quietly steers choices in pricing and menus. Our preferences turn out to be relative, not fixed.
Plain language
Adding a worse third option nudges you toward a particular choice.
Shrink Insight
We judge options against each other, not on their own, so a decoy can steer us.
Why it matters
It shows how our choices are shaped by the options placed beside them, common in pricing and marketing. Spotting it helps you judge an option on its own merits.
Common misunderstanding
People think their preferences are stable and internal. Adding an irrelevant option can flip which choice feels best.
Shrink Perspective
What looks like a better deal is often just a better comparison.
Shrink Reflection
Where was I steered by an option I would never actually pick?
Shrink Step
When comparing options, judge each on its own value, not against a nearby decoy.
Shrink Minute
Recall a pricing menu where the middle option seemed designed to push you.
Shrink Takeaway
A worse option can quietly sell you a pricier one.
Medical boundary
This concept is educational and shouldn't be used to self-diagnose. It doesn't replace care from a licensed clinician. Symptoms, medication, and treatment decisions should be discussed with a qualified professional, and emergency symptoms require emergency care.
Evidence summary
A well-replicated finding in judgment and consumer research, also called the asymmetric dominance effect.
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