Psychologycalendar_todayLast updated: Apr 2026
What is Zero-Sum Thinking?
/ˈzɪərəʊ sʌm ˈθɪŋkɪŋ/
Zero-sum thinking is the cognitive bias of perceiving a situation as competitive when it does not have to be — assuming that one person's gain must come at the expense of another's loss.
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Everyday Example
Assuming that if your colleague gets a promotion, it means you won't — when in reality both of you could be promoted — is zero-sum thinking applied to a non-zero-sum situation.
publicReal-World Application
“International trade negotiations often stall because of zero-sum thinking — politicians assume trade must have a winner and loser, when both parties can benefit from exchange.”
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Did you know?
Zero-sum thinking has evolutionary roots — competition over food and mates in ancestral environments was genuinely zero-sum. The cognitive shortcut now misfires in a world of expanding wealth and cooperation.
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Key Insight
Most of the best opportunities in life are non-zero-sum: collaborations, knowledge sharing, trade, and relationships where both parties can win. Zero-sum thinking causes people to miss them.
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