Definition:
Escalation of commitment is the tendency to continue investing in a course of action despite negative outcomes, due to prior investment of time, money, effort, or identity.
Usage Context:
Common in failing projects, long-term contracts, platform dependency, sunk-cost situations, and institutional decision-making.
Critical Note:
Escalation of commitment is often exploited by systems that benefit from persistence. Withdrawal is reframed as failure, making continued participation feel like the responsible or rational choice even when harm increases.