Metaist

Review: Paradox of Choice

title

(Image: Amazon)

Summary #

The Paradox of Choice consists of our:

  • preference for many (rather than few) options when making a decision,
  • larger likelihood of dissatisfaction when choosing from a large set of options (rather than a small set).

In Barry Schwartz's Paradox of Choice, he argues that our desire to expand our available alternatives is actually making us less satisfied with whatever we end up choosing.

Choice

The choice is your and your alone.

(Photo: Tori Cat at Flickr)

Commentary #

Schwartz sees two major strategies for making a choice:

The difference is that a satisficer is operating with a specific set of criteria in mind. Once the criteria are met, the search is over. Meanwhile, the maximizer continues to search for the best deal and can never really be sure that there isn't a better deal out there. As a result, the maximizer suffers from the perception that any defect in his choice might have been overcome by some hypothetical other option.

It's almost as if for maximizers "it's not in the last place you look."

See Also #