Omission Bias
Judging harmful actions as worse than equally harmful failures to act.
How it is identified
Test: an identical outcome is judged more acceptable when it results from inaction than from action
Unit
qualitative
In depth
Omission bias is why not selling a deteriorating holding feels different from buying it today, even though the two are economically identical positions. It underpins status quo bias and explains why portfolios accumulate holdings nobody would now choose. In risk terms it means unmanaged exposures persist because managing them requires an act that could be blamed, while leaving them cannot. The correction is to treat holding as an active decision to buy at the current price, which is what it is.
Worked example
Holding a position now worth ₹6,00,000 is identical to selling it and immediately rebuying at the same price, minus costs. The first feels like nothing and the second feels like a decision, and only one of them will be regretted.
Illustrative figures, chosen so the arithmetic is easy to follow. Not a live price and not a valuation of any company.
Educational reference only
This entry explains what “Omission Bias” means. It is not investment advice and not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Any numbers above are illustrative, not live prices, and nothing here predicts price direction or rates a stock. Consider your own circumstances and consult a SEBI-registered investment adviser before acting.