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 only 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 tacitly accepted "voluntary overtime." Individually, these things seem trivial, but when they accumulate, they become quite alarming. In psychology, this phenomenon is called the "Sausage Principle." It means that just like sausages are sliced one piece at a time, people can be gradually pushed into a situation they would not have directly agreed to. At first, they may not notice, but by the time they realize it, they are 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 referred to as the "gradual strategy," which essentially means: using small, seemingly harmless steps to gradually push you towards a situation you would not have directly agreed to. The actions are small, but the direction is clear.
Its effectiveness is related 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, which seems acceptable. Once or twice is no big deal; 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 only agreed to help a friend book a meeting room, but the next time you have 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. The pros and cons 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," leading to another purchase. By the time you check out, you intended to spend just a few bucks, 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 agree. A few days later, they come back to you, "You helped last time, so it won't be a bother this time," and you endure it again. Gradually, many tasks end up on your plate. 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 get words down. After a month or so, they might actually write 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 is 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 is it a good method of self-motivation? Was there 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 don't realize 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 what you can accept and what you can't. Don't say "it's okay" too many times, or the person 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 the other person be unhappy? Maybe. But if you drive yourself crazy, they won't be there to pick up the pieces 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 a rhythm, an inertia. It pushes you forward little by little, and whether you are progressing or getting stuck depends on whether you are aware. Sometimes I feel like it's like slicing sausage in the kitchen; when the knife falls piece by piece, you don't feel pressured, since each time is just a little bit. 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?