The relationship scale and sensitivity is diminishing. Small changes in smaller scale tend to evoke a bigger sense of change than changes at larger scales.
Example:
- A pen that costs 10 bucks is offered for 5 bucks at a store that’s 5 miles away from your house. You’re very likely to go to that shop to get that deal, even though that’s inconvenient.
- A new computer costs 1000 bucks and you know for a fact that it costs 995 at a another store store. You’re likely to buy the 1000 Euro computer. Even though in both you save 5 euros.
References
- https://mindingourway.com/on-caring/
- https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/2ftJ38y9SRBCBsCzy/scope-insensitivity
- FETHERSTONHAUGH, DAVID, et al. “Insensitivity to the Value of Human Life: A Study of Psychophysical Numbing.” Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, vol. 14, no. 3, 1997, pp. 283–300. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41760856. Accessed 25 May 2023.