Simplify Your Life And Become Happier
Less is more, or is it?
The Paradox of Choice concept argues that too much choice is a bad thing. For example, several tests show that when people have more samples at a supermarket to choose from, they get more satisfaction when there are fewer choices to contend with. Recent articles on diverse topics such as the selection at Trader Joe’s supermarkets http://money.cnn.com/2010/08/20/news/companies/inside_trader_joes_full_version.fortune/ and usability in website design http://memeburn.com/2010/08/ux-guru-andy-budd-warns-that-websites-ignore-usability-at-their-peril/# show that when people are faced with too many choices, they will either feel that they “should have” chosen a different option, or they will make no choice at all. Therefore, fewer choices invariably leads to a greater perception of satisfaction.
Most people associate the concept with Barry Schwartz’s book “The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less” in which the author breaks down how people make choices, and the internal suffering that goes on when there are too many options on the table. The concept is extended to the role of the individual in society, and the breakdown that happens when people have to make a multitude of choices at the expense of community involvement.
A criticism of the “paradox of choice” concept may be that people who choose to limit their own choices are just letting others (including society and religious rules) do their thinking for them. Responsibility comes from making the proper judgments and choosing the right path in life, which may be difficult but at least could prevent the kinds of excesses that happen when groups are led by the whims of one or more unstable individuals. In this sense, choice may be unsatisfying but is the better moral option.
Notes and Special Information
Special note: Some people get around this by sticking to their decisions.