underreaction
Too little feeling
Underreaction is a response that falls short of what circumstances warrant—too muted, too slow, or too small given the magnitude of the situation.
The term implies a failure to match scale: The government's underreaction to the outbreak cost lives.
In finance, underreaction describes markets that adjust too gradually to new information.
The opposite of overreaction.
Insufficient and belated remedy
- dropped ballFailed catch attempt
- missed cueOverlooked performance prompt
- failure to actNeglecting to intervene
- inactionDeliberate nonmovement
paralysis · hesitation · delay · sluggishness · unpreparedness · negligence · oversight · miscalculation
Absence of feeling
- disinterestAbsence of bias
- unconcernAbsence of worry
- detachmentSeparation or emotional uninvolvement
- nonchalanceCalm, casual composure
insouciance · aloofness · disengagement · passivity · unresponsiveness · dismissiveness · complacency · carelessness
Avoidance of excess
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
- self-controlAbility to restrain impulses
- reserveSupply kept back
- constraintLimiting condition or rule
suppression · containment · inhibition · discipline · prudence · caution · discretion · measured response
Unshakable mental steadiness
- sangfroidImperturbable calm
- poiseGraceful, unshakable calm
- self-possessionCalm control of oneself
- level-headednessBalanced, rational temperament
unflappability · imperturbability · coolness · collectedness · aplomb · steadiness · calm · serenity
Loss of sensation
- flatnessAbsence of slope
- bluntingMaking less sharp
- dissociationMental separation from surroundings
- shutdownCessation of operations
stoicism · impassivity · unfeelingness · coldness · frigidity · woodenness · stoniness · blank expression
too little too late
Insufficient and belated remedy
- dropped ballFailed catch attempt
- missed cueOverlooked performance prompt
- failure to actNeglecting to intervene
inaction · paralysis · hesitation · delay · sluggishness · unpreparedness · negligence · oversight · miscalculation · misjudgment
apathy
Absence of feeling
- disinterestAbsence of bias
- unconcernAbsence of worry
- detachmentSeparation or emotional uninvolvement
nonchalance · insouciance · aloofness · disengagement · passivity · unresponsiveness · dismissiveness · complacency · carelessness · heedlessness
moderation
Avoidance of excess
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
- self-controlAbility to restrain impulses
- reserveSupply kept back
constraint · suppression · containment · inhibition · discipline · prudence · caution · discretion · measured response · understatement
equanimity
Unshakable mental steadiness
- sangfroidImperturbable calm
- poiseGraceful, unshakable calm
- self-possessionCalm control of oneself
level-headedness · unflappability · imperturbability · coolness · collectedness · aplomb · steadiness · calm · serenity · placidity
numbness
Loss of sensation
- flatnessAbsence of slope
- bluntingMaking less sharp
- dissociationMental separation from surroundings
shutdown · stoicism · impassivity · unfeelingness · coldness · frigidity · woodenness · stoniness · blank expression · poker face
- comedy elementspunchline, wit, gag, satire, irony
- comedy tropespratfall, parody, sight gag, running gag, satire
- market phenomenamarket crash, market bubble, flash crash, correction, bubble
- cognitive biasesconfirmation bias, anchoring bias, negativity bias, framing effect, optimism bias
- ineffective responsesexcuses, deflection, denial, avoidance, stonewalling
- reactionsresponse, gasp, wince, flinch, startle
underreactionoverreaction
Disproportionate emotional response
disproportionate response · hyperbole · panic · freakout · hysteria
underreactionoutburst
Sudden emotional release
explosion · theatrics · effusiveness · conniption · tantrum