Analysis paralysis

Paralysis by analysis ( engl.: analysis paralysis ) describes the excessive analyzing a situation, thereby making a decision out delayed or even prevented altogether. One possible decision is going to extensively considered by those affected as too complicated, thereby delaying the solution of the actual problem and the search for the "perfect" solution replaces this. Fear of choosing a sub-optimal solution - in the sense of " extinction by instinct " (English: extinct by instinct ), fatal decisions by hasty judgments or gut feeling - additionally blocks the decision process.

Examples

Examples can be found among others in the software development, where the paralysis is due to excessive planning, designing, modeling, without providing a great value for the project. Even board games, the phenomenon is encountered when players are overwhelmed by the plethora of possible decisions and require an unusually long time for their train.