overreaction

Overreaction is an exaggerated response to a stimulus that is disproportionate to the actual risk, harm, or significance of the event. It can occur at the level of an individual, a relationship, an organization, or a society, and may involve strong emotions, biased interpretations, or impulsive actions that exceed what a given situation would warrant.

Causes and mechanisms include heightened emotional arousal, perceived threat, uncertainty, and information gaps. Cognitive biases such as negativity bias, availability heuristic, and misinterpretation of probabilities can amplify perceived danger. Social factors—reputational concerns, conformity, and group polarization—can escalate reactions. Media coverage and online dissemination can further amplify responses and fuel moral panics.

Examples include reacting with anger to a minor insult, pursuing aggressive responses to a small disagreement, or treating a transient inconvenience as a crisis. In markets, prices may swing excessively after a brief disturbance. In public policy, minor incidents sometimes trigger disproportionate regulatory or legislative responses.

Impacts of overreaction include wasted resources, damaged credibility, strained relationships, and escalated conflicts. It can also lead to poor decision making, policy mistakes, and a temporary misallocation of attention and funds.

Mitigation strategies emphasize deliberate processing and de-escalation. Tactics include pausing to cool down, seeking reliable information, considering alternative explanations, testing base rates, and using calm, precise communication. Education about cognitive biases and media literacy can also reduce the likelihood of overreactions.