Definition:
Attrition by design is the intentional structuring of systems, processes, or environments so that people gradually disengage, give up, or drop out due to accumulated friction, complexity, or exhaustion rather than explicit exclusion.
Usage Context:
Seen in welfare systems, customer service processes, complaints and appeals mechanisms, platform moderation, subscription cancellations, and administrative procedures.
Critical Note:
Attrition by design allows institutions to reduce participation, claims, or resistance without overt denial. Harm is produced indirectly, enabling plausible deniability while shifting responsibility onto individuals for failing to persist.
Related Terms:
Administrative Violence, Friction by Design, Institutional Neglect, Normalisation Pressure, Accountability Deficit