SMRTR Science & EngineeringJul 20, 2025Hacker News

Scientists reveal a widespread but unidentified psychological phenomenon

SMRTR summary

A new study reveals people often avoid backtracking, even when it's more efficient. Researchers found this "doubling-back aversion" in both physical and mental tasks. Participants consistently chose longer routes or less efficient strategies to avoid undoing progress, driven by discomfort with "wasting" past effort rather than misunderstanding time savings. This bias could impact decision-making in various life situations.

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