The tendency to keep investing in a failing relationship simply because you have already invested so much time, emotion, and identity.
In economics, a "sunk cost" is any cost that has already been paid and cannot be recovered. In relationships, these include:
The trap happens when we believe that past investment justifies current pain. We stay because leaving feels like "wasting" everything we did.
"If I met her today, exactly as she is now, would I choose this relationship again?"
— The Ultimate Decision Filter
Identity collapse is the real engine behind the sunk cost trap. If the relationship ends, you're not just losing a partner—you're losing the version of yourself that "committed" and "made it work."
To break free, you must realize that endurance is not compatibility. Shared history does not guarantee shared direction.
The Relationship Pulse Check identifies if you are staying for "Future Values" or "Past Investment".
Assess Your Pulse