The paradox of choice
Posted on May 5, 2010 • 2 min read • 314 words
Here we go, all kinds of choices that customers can, or should, choose from. Because you have to put the customer first, right? But can you do that with this? See here: the paradox of choice(s)
The paradox of choice
You may not have heard of it before, but the paradox of choice is the phenomenon where an abundance of choices and options can cause us more stress, anxiety and uncertainty instead of giving us more freedom and happiness. This paradox can occur in various places in our daily lives, from choosing a meal at a restaurant to choosing a partner or a career.
The paradox has arisen because we have an unprecedented abundance of choices. This can cause a feeling of anxiety and indecision, as we think there could always be a better option than the one we choose. As a result, we are also confronted with increasing pressure to make the right choice.
Another thing that also contributes is that we often think that more choices means that we have more control over our lives. But in reality, an abundance of choices can paralyze us and make us feel out of control.
More choice can also lead to dissatisfaction and regret. When we finally make a choice, we can wonder if we made the right decision and if there wasn’t a better option after all. This can make us feel insecure and feel like we’ve missed something important.
Barry Schwartz already gave a presentation about this fourteen years ago. Watch the (short) video below. Short, because there is also a video of more than an hour 🙂
Ultimately, there is no simple answer. But I do agree with Barry Schwartz: There really is such a thing as too many choices. With fewer choices we may be able to [relax] a little more( https://ajelsinga.nl/en/2017/do-you-want-to-relax-then-go-diving/).