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Why too much choice is stressing us out
The ideology of choice
The ideology of choice makes us forget that not all things should be bought and sold. Moreover, more choice does not increase our happiness, security, and contentment. It does leave us overwhelmed and anxious so that we often turn to denial and willful blindness.
At least we are thinking about choice and do not merely follow the whims of the market.
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Endless choice leads to inertia
Very few of us feel competent enough to choose between an overwhelming amount of options. When you are offered 156 different kinds of retirement plans, for instance, it can make you miserable to make a competent choice. For that reason, it might be easier not to make a choice.
But even if we do make a choice, we can end up less satisfied. It is easy to imagine that you might have missed an attractive alternative.
Areas with increased choices
- With too many options, people increasingly rely on recommendation engines to help them cope with choice.
- We pay more for the same stuff. To watch the good things on TV now involves paying monthly subscriptions to many services, where once you only had to pay a TV license.
- Privatization of companies leads to many companies offering the same service - but we still feel that we are possibly paying too much.
- Education becomes a consumer good.
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We all make bad decisions
While we may not like to admit this, we all are making a lot of bad decisions, be it our personal lives, careers or in our jobs. Here is what research says about making good decisions:
The right information, not more
If there is too much information, we tend to make the wrong decision, and even if our decision is well-researched and considered right, we end up dissatisfied.
The right information, even if less, provides clarity to make the right decision.
Gut feelings vs logic
A gut feeling, or an instinct, is often the right path, and points towards the right decision.
Ultra-rational, logical and unemotional decision-making does not guarantee that the decision taken will be the right one.
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The Freedom of Choice
The freedom of choice is generally perceived to be good, but studies show that too much choice can be a hindrance and can impede the decision.
On the contrary, having fewer choices has shown ...
Fear of Better Options
... or Maximization, is a behavioral trait that makes us look for all possible options before we decide so that we don't miss out on the best option and regret later, after making the decision.
We take into consideration all available options to minimize our frustration and stress.
Maximizers vs Satisficers
- Maximizers feel less satisfied even if they make better decisions, since they had so much choice, and choosing the best comes down to some sort of compromise.
- Satisficers: They are the people that make quick decisions with fewer options and that tend to be more satisfied.
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Corporate Speak
Corporations have a language that they use while talking in meetings or communicating in email. It’s called Corporate Jargon.
Corporate jargon is a forced and complicated way to exp...
Language With No Substance
- The corporate jargon is often described as fluffy, without any real substance and aimed towards the speaker’s self-inflated ego.
- Words are substituted for analogies and references that take longer to process, and have the intention of wrapping, hiding or impeding actual, effective communication.
The Emporer's New Clothes
Corporate speak may not mean anything of value to anyone in a meeting, but like the Emperor's New Clothes, no one wants to point out the inefficiency and mind-numbing nature of the constant use of the jargon. Everyone pretends that they are on the same page as everyone else.
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