Commission bias

Biological Parallel

Territorial animals patrol boundaries daily even when intrusion probability is low—commission bias favors action over inaction. The logic: visible patrols deter intruders; passive monitoring allows encroachment. But excessive patrolling wastes energy that could fund reproduction. The trade-off: action produces tangible evidence (scent marks, tracks) while inaction produces nothing measurable. Evolution favors commission when action costs are low and omission risks are high—but this creates overspending on visible security.