Spy-Craft and Pink Matter: Understanding the Sunk Cost Fallacy in Covert Operations

Spy-Craft and Pink Matter: Understanding the Sunk Cost Fallacy in Emotional Investments with Covert Operatives

The concept of the "sunk cost fallacy" within the context of emotional investments in spy-craft—a realm where operatives (often referred to as "handlers" or "assets") engage in clandestine activities—is a compelling intersection of psychology, economics, and intelligence operations. The sunk cost fallacy occurs when individuals, including operatives and their handlers, continue to inves...