Justification of effort

Justification of effort refers to the tendency of people to rationalize their decisions and actions based on the amount of effort they have invested. In psychology, it suggests that if someone spends a lot of time, energy, or resources on something, they are likely to convince themselves that the outcome is valuable, even if it isn’t. This phenomenon helps protect one’s self-esteem and reinforces commitment to a goal or task, even in the face of challenges. Essentially, it highlights how our investments can shape our perceptions and judgments about their worth.