Delmore effect
The Delmore effect is a cognitive bias where people prefer simple, complete solutions over complex ones.
How it works
This effect operates on the basis that individuals prefer easily digestible information due to limited cognitive resources.
Examples
- In business, simple strategies are often chosen over complex ones.
- Students opt for summaries instead of detailed textbooks.
- Politicians rely on slogans for effective communication.
Consequences
This bias can lead to suboptimal decisions due to the rejection of more complex, potentially better solutions.
Counteracting
- Promoting critical thinking through education.
- Highlighting successful complex solutions.
- Using tools to simplify without losing depth.
Critiques
Simplicity can make information more accessible, critical in high-pressure situations.
Fields of Impact
Also known as
Relevant Research
The Pull of Simplicity: Why Minds Prefer the Straightforward,
Del.more, S. (2012)
Journal of Cognitive Sciences
Strategic Decision-Making: When Simple Wins,
Glen, C. and Everson, A. (2015)
Economic Psychology Journal
The Dual Nature of Complexity,
Kim, H. and Barker, J. (2018)
Proceedings of the Complexity in Human Behavior Conference
Case Studies
Real-world examples showing how Delmore effect manifests in practice
Context
A mid-stage payments startup was rapidly scaling and under pressure from investors to show streamlined operations and predictable margins. The product and operations teams prioritized a single, simple fee-and-routing model that executives could explain in one slide.
Situation
To reduce decision friction and speed deployment, the company replaced its existing dynamic routing engine with a single flat-fee routing rule that sent most transactions through one preferred processor. The team believed a simpler, complete solution would cut overhead and make forecasting easier.
The Bias in Action
Decision-makers favored the simple, complete routing rule because it was easy to communicate to customers and align with quarterly reporting, reflecting the Delmore effect: a preference for a tidy solution over a more complex, nuanced one. They stopped reviewing detailed routing telemetry and ignored engineer warnings that the flat rule ignored currency, geographic origin, and time-of-day cost variance. Because the change looked like a finished solution (one rule, one vendor), no A/B tests or staged rollouts were conducted; the team considered the simplicity itself proof of sufficiency.
Outcome
Within three months average per-transaction processing costs rose as cheaper routes were bypassed, margins shrank, and a subset of high-volume merchants left for competitors with lower fees. The company reversed the rule only after finance flagged an unexpected cost trend and churn data showed attrition among key accounts.