Analysis paralysis: what it is and how to overcome it

Our day to day is completely crossed by a multitude of decisions. Some of them are also quite important: deciding which car to buy, choosing which course to enroll in, confessing something to someone or not, etc. Being in a situation of having to make a relevant decision can be a source of anxiety, and we are not always able to manage these types of emotions.

Many times, instead of taking action and exposing ourselves to the negative consequences of the mistake, we remain anchored at the point of imagining the possible scenarios that will occur when we behave in one way or another. This psychological state very well portrays a concept that has emerged within the decision theory: the analysis paralysis.

What is the analysis paralysis?

Defined far above, the paralysis of analysis It is an error in decision-making that occurs when a person or a computer is immobilized in the prior analysis phase of the problem and a concrete plan of action is never implemented.

Taking it further into the field of 

psychology, analysis paralysis can be defined as the situation in which someone is immersed imagining possible options but never uses any of them and is not materialized no plan.

Let's go to the concrete

Have you ever thought about writing a novel, movie or series? Have you stopped to think about the characters and situations that could appear in it?

It is possible that you have been thinking a lot about the plot and the elements that could appear in this work of fiction, and it is also very possible that the the vast amount of possibilities that open up before you have seemed so overwhelming that you have not even written more than a few first pages schematic. This scenario is an example of analysis paralysis, because the previous analysis, far from becoming a means to an end, becomes a difficult obstacle to overcome And, no matter how much it helps you get involved in a plan or project, it never comes to fruition.

Of course, analysis paralysis does not have to be limited to cases where you want to produce something material. It can also appear in your relationship with other people. Here's a fictitious example that will probably sound familiar to you:

How will you take it if I tell you like this? No, I better say it this other way... or not, better this way. Although this would have the problem that... This constant reflection on what to do and the consequences of the actions can mean that we do not know how to decide on any of the options, leading us towards a dynamic of inaction.

Opportunity cost and real world problems

Of course, analysis paralysis would not be a problem if analyzing possible situations and anticipating problems that might arise did not consume time and effort. However, in the real world, overthinking things can make things never happen.

The opportunity cost is what makes the paralysis of analysis a problem, and it is for this reason that we should take the analysis phase of the possible decisions according to their practicality. Stopping to analyze something for too long deprives us not only of other experiences, but also of learning based on experience, try and failure. Analyzing what is there and what can happen is useful because it serves to act accordingly, not because the simple fact to recreate ourselves in whatever comes to mind during this phase is going to provide us with some kind of benefit material.

It should also be borne in mind that there are cases in which analysis paralysis is only apparent. Someone who has fun imagining possible novels may not have the real intention of writing anything: just practice mental gymnastics. Similarly, imagining things or even making plans in a systematic way can be stimulating. by itself, as long as these thoughts have nothing to do with a real situation that requires answer. Learning to distinguish between the two types of situations may take some practice, but spending time looking at those things can translate into real benefits.