Omission and commission in judgment and decision making: understanding and linking action-inaction effects using the concept of normality

Abstract

Research on action and inaction in judgment and decision making now spans over 35 years, ‎with ever-growing interest. Accumulating evidence suggests that action and inaction are ‎perceived and evaluated differently, affecting a wide array of psychological factors from ‎emotions to morality. These asymmetries have been shown to have real impact on choice ‎behavior in both personal and interpersonal contexts, with implications for individuals and ‎society. We review impactful action-inaction related phenomena, with a summary and ‎comparison of key findings and insights, mapping links between the effects using norm ‎theory (Kahneman & Miller, 1986) concept of normality. Together, these aim to contribute ‎towards an integrated understanding of the human psyche regarding action and inaction.‎