Definition:
Status quo bias is the tendency to prefer existing conditions over change, even when those conditions are harmful or inefficient.
Usage Context:
Appears in political debate, policy inertia, institutional reform resistance, and public discourse that frames alternatives as risky or unrealistic.
Critical Note:
Status quo bias protects entrenched interests by making harm feel familiar and change feel dangerous. It shifts the burden of proof onto those seeking improvement rather than those defending failure.