Why does "the more options you have, the more you can't decide"?
"Why are you so lost..."
Cafe menus, video thumbnails, and clothing sales corners.
The more options you have, the more you have the experience of "not being able to decide" for some reason.
Why do you get lost when you have so many options?
This phenomenon is a psychological effect called the "choice paradox".
We tend to think that more choices will give us more freedom and more satisfaction, but it's actually the opposite.
In 2000, Columbia University psychologist Sheena Iyengar and others in the famous "jam experiment",
The result was that the group with 24 types of jam had a higher number of tasters but a lower purchase rate than the group with 6 types of jam.
"Choosing" is a heavy burden on the brain
Selection is not just a comparison;
Which one to choose = which one to throw away is also **.
With more options, our brain reacts with:
- Increased burden of information processing
- Increased likelihood of regret (maybe I should have chosen that one)
- Too much seeking the "right answer" can lead to procrastination in decisions
As a result, it is easy to fall into a state of "not being able to choose anything" and "regrets remain".
Why are modern people tired of "not being able to choose"?
Modern society is a "flood of choices".
- Products and services recommended on social media
- Endless videos and music with subscriptions
- Countless job openings, learning content, and life choices
While this environment is convenient, it creates constant pressure to make better choices.
This also leads to so-called "decision fatigue".
3 Tips That Work for You Who Can't Choose
To avoid being swayed by the paradox of choice, the following ideas are effective:
-
Better, not "Best" is Enough
- No perfect choice exists. A point of view that 80 points is OK.
-
Decide on a "don't choose" rule in advance
- Example: At a café, always choose the "top left menu", etc.
-
Don't blame yourself for not being able to choose
- Hesitation is "evidence of thinking". The brain is working normally.
Conclusion |The ability to let go may be more important than the ability to choose.
Choice is also the act of clarifying one's "priorities" and "values".
That's why it's difficult and hesitating.
However, don't leave any regrets about the options you didn't choose.
That may be the "power of choice" to survive comfortably in the modern age.