Biden is suffering from « escalation of commitment to a losing course of action, » says organizational psychologist Adam Grant.
Organizational psychologist Adam Grant recently explained why President Joe Biden may not be willing to drop out of the 2024 presidential race.
After Biden’s dismal debate performance against Trump in Atlanta last week, there have been calls for Biden to stop running for reelection and for another Democrat to take his place before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in late August. However, Biden’s campaign pledged that the president would not drop out.
Grant, a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, wrote in an article published on Wednesday, titled, « There’s a Name for the Trap Biden Faces », that Biden is suffering from « escalation of commitment to a losing course of action. »
« In the face of impending failure, extensive evidence shows that instead of rethinking our plans, we often double down on our decisions », Grant explains.
Newsweek reached out to Biden’s campaign via email for comment.
Grant listed a few conditions that make this scenario even more likely, citing research by organizational psychologist Barry Staw: « When people are directly responsible for and publicly attached to a decision, when it has been a long journey and the end is in sight, and when they have reasons to be confident that they can succeed.
