[[Deciding]] tags:: #on/decisions #on/craving dates:: 2022-02-27 people:: # paradox of choice *Having more choices paradoxically makes it harder for us to make decisions and makes us less happy with the choice that we made.* This reminds me of [[Scarcity Mindset]], the paradoxical nature of how we think the relationship with the world looks compared to how it actually works. In this case, we think that having more choices will make us happier, but it actually makes us more anxious during and more regretful after. We do well to implement [[default mode]] decision making as much as possible, so we have fewer choices and can focus our energy and cognitive load on decisions that matter. Also we will make ourselves less concerned with things that don't matter as much. > The **paradox of choice** – Why More Is Less is a book written by American psychologist Barry Schwartz and first published in 2004 by Harper Perennial. In the book, Schwartz argues that eliminating consumer choices can greatly reduce anxiety for shoppers. The book analyses the behavior of different types of people (in particular, maximizers and [[satisficers]]) facing the rich choice. This book demonstrates to us how the dramatic explosion in choice—from the mundane to the profound challenges of balancing career, family, and individual needs—has paradoxically become a problem instead of a solution and how our obsession with choice encourages us to seek that which makes us feel worse. > > [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%20Paradox%20of%20Choice) This matters to me because as I [[Design my life to live]], I want to ensure I end up with happiness situations when I might otherwise be putting myself in a position of anxiety. I also want ot be mindful of the comparison problems that are created, such as keeping up with the Jones's. I'm thinking that part of the application of this thinking should be in [[Designing Curricula]] and [[Learner-Centered]]. We can give learners choices within a limited set, as opposed to all of the options of infinity when we try to involve them in learning choices. Also, if learners are spending mental energy on deciding what they will work on, they will have less available for [[Learning]]. The opposite argument is that we are so fortunate to have so many options in our lives. We should not look a gift horse in the mouth, we should be grateful. It is ridiculous for us to be upset about the amount of choices we have. Ancient man was stuck with 0-1 options, and now we have infinite options. We live in a time of plenty and we are the most fortunate in the history of humans. What is wrong with us for being so anxious and unhappy with our position? ## Sources: https://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_the_paradox_of_choice