Commission bias
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The commission bias describes a behavior in which the subjective risk for an action is perceived as less than the failure to do so. However, the objective consequences of the actions are often more negative compared to the failure to act. This bias occurs because it is easier for people to justify an action whose consequences may not have produced the desired result than it is to justify the negative consequences of inaction.
Examples
- Politicians massively restrict civil liberties (e.g. video surveillance) in order to reduce the risk of a terrorist attack. The benefit of the action (installing video surveillance) is not guaranteed, but it is easier to justify than justifying your own non-action in the event of a new terrorist attack.