Resource Guarding
Perceived scarcity triggers hoarding and defence of what you have; scarcity itself captures attention and taxes judgment, so people under it decide worse about everything else.
An everyday example
Stockpiling inventory or cash far past need after a supply scare, while neglecting the decisions that would fix the supply.
What it can cost you
Over-investment in holding, under-investment in solving; tunnel vision on the scarce thing.
Warning signs
- I keep buying more of it and feel no safer.
- I cannot think about anything except running out.
One thing to do
Set a numeric 'enough' for the scarce resource, then spend attention on the cause of the scarcity.
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