Human behavior is often not determined by rationality, but driven by subconscious habits and patterns. — Carl Jung
I originally just wanted to help a friend with a small task, but before I knew it, I became a key player in the project; I intended to buy a small item to meet a minimum order, but ended up with five or six extra items on the bill; and then there were the overtime hours, which I initially agreed to for just one hour, but ended up staying late every day, as if I had defaulted to "voluntary overtime." Each individual instance seems trivial, but when these things pile up, it becomes quite unsettling. In psychology, this phenomenon is referred to as the "Sausage Principle." It means that, just like sausages being sliced one piece at a time, people can easily be gradually pushed into a situation they wouldn't have directly agreed to. At first, you don't notice it, but by the time you realize it, you're already in too deep. Today, let's talk about this "slicing sausage" tactic.
1. How does the Sausage Principle work?#
The "Sausage Principle" is sometimes called the "gradual strategy," which simply means: using some very small, seemingly non-threatening steps to push you little by little toward a situation you wouldn't have directly agreed to. The actions are small, but the direction is clear.
Its effectiveness relates to the brain's response mechanisms. Psychologist Daniel Kahneman divides the brain into a "fast system" and a "slow system." The former is responsible for intuitive responses, such as habitual actions; the latter is used for deep thinking and logical analysis.
The "Sausage Principle" cleverly exploits the "fast system": what you see is always just this small step in front of you, seemingly within the realm of acceptance. Once or twice doesn't matter; after all, you haven't lost anything. But by the time you start thinking, "Should I stop?" you're already halfway up the hill and can't go back. It's like you initially just agreed to help a friend book a meeting room, and the next time you need to create a PowerPoint, and the time after that you have to host, and before you know it, you're the main person responsible. Each step seems reasonable, but you've become the one covering for them.
2. Benefits and drawbacks of the sausage tactic#
For example, when shopping. You originally just wanted to buy a discounted cup, but then the platform pops up a message saying "Spend 99 and save 30," so you casually add a few small items, and then see "second item half price," and add another order. By the time you check out, you intended to spend just a little over ten, but ended up spending over a hundred.
Another example is in interpersonal relationships. At first, the other person says, "Just help me this once," and you nod. A few days later, they come back to you, "You helped last time, so it won't be a hassle this time," and you endure it once more. Gradually, many things get pushed onto you. You want to say no, but can't bring yourself to do it.
Of course, it's not all bad. Sometimes, the "sausage-style" approach can be helpful. For instance, someone wants to write a novel and only forces themselves to write 50 words a day, without worrying about quality, just to write. After a month or so, they actually end up writing tens of thousands of words. In this case, "slicing sausage" becomes a "slow but effective" method. So it's not a matter of good or bad, but whether you are aware of what's happening.
What about you? Have you ever been pushed into a situation by the "sausage" tactic? Do you think this is like boiling a frog in warm water, or a good method of self-motivation? Has there been a time when you used this method to change a bad habit?
3. How to avoid it?#
It's hard to completely avoid it. Most people are unaware when they're being sliced. But you can be more vigilant.
Be alert. Whenever you hear phrases like "just this once" or "it'll be done quickly," pause for a moment and ask yourself: Is it really just this once? Or, if this isn't the last time, am I willing to continue?
Set your own bottom line. Just because someone else asks doesn't mean you have to agree. You need to know which things you can accept and which you cannot. Don't say "it's fine" too many times, or the person listening will really think you can handle it all. Learn to say no. The earlier you say "no," the easier it will be for you. Will others be unhappy? Maybe. But if you drive yourself crazy, no one else will step in to fix it for you.
Finally, let's talk a bit about the "Sausage Principle." It's not exactly a trap, nor is it a tool. It's just a rhythm, an inertia. It pushes you forward little by little, and whether you're advancing or getting stuck depends on whether you're aware. Sometimes I feel it's like slicing sausages in the kitchen; when the knife falls piece by piece, you don't feel pressured because each time is just a little. But when you look back, the whole sausage is gone. That's when you start asking yourself: Am I trying to make a dish, or have I accidentally cut up the entire meal?