People often prefer the status quo over change due to a fear of the unknown. This is known as the status quo bias and can be seen in politics and cultural changes. Sunset clauses in legislation can manipulate this bias by assuring people that things will return to the accepted state of affairs. The concept of maintaining the status quo is also used in agreements such as ceasefires.
The more things change, the more things stay the same. While there is some truth to this statement, more often than not things work in a way that allows for very little change. Many people prefer the current state because they don’t like to take risks. They are comfortable with the status quo, or the existing status.
Fearing a radical change, many prefer to continue in the current condition, even if that condition is not optimal. They view even less favorable circumstances as better than the unknown. In other words, change is not necessarily considered progress. This is known as the status quo bias.
The status quo is easily recognized in the realm of politics. In a democracy, people will often continue to elect the same leaders, despite their displeasure, rather than voting for an unknown. A politician who is an “outsider,” even though many people say he’s what they want, tends to be met with suspicion. Anyone who does not enjoy name recognition is also generally seen as suspect.
While not all changes are bad per se, profound or radical changes can generally instill fear or apprehension. This is especially true of cultural changes, such as the redefinition of marriage or the prohibition of procedures such as partial abortion. When an issue has been approached according to an accepted standard throughout recent history, even if grudgingly, many people will be wary of making sudden or drastic changes in that policy.
In some cases, a departure from the status quo will be temporary. This is the case with legislation that includes a sunset clause. A sunset clause is equivalent to an expiration date. The law will expire and the situation will return to the accepted state of affairs unless the law is renewed.
This is one way politicians can manipulate questionable legislation, assuring people that things will go back to the way they were. However, such legislation is renewed frequently, but it appears to be an effective tool because it removes the sense of an abrupt or radical shift from the status quo.
The status quo is also a concept used in some agreements. A promise to maintain the current state of affairs may be required before another party becomes a signatory. An example is in accepting a ceasefire. Peace must continue, hostilities must not resume, if one side expects the other to fulfill its obligations. The maintenance of the status quo is necessary if the parties hope to enjoy the benefits foreseen by the agreement.
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