Barry Schwartz on Why Too Much Choice is Bad for Us

by Jay Ehret

Thanks to Olenka who pointed me to this great talk by Barry Schwartz on why too much choice is bad for us. Too many choices cause:

1. Paralysis rather than liberation - people prefer to make no decision rather than make a complicated choice.
2. Less satisfaction with decisions as people have greater reason to regret the decisions they have made.
3. Unrealistic expectations.
4. Self-blame - when experiences are not perfect, people blame themselves.

Schwartz also argues that in modern affluent societies, too much choice may be a significant contributor to depression. He is the author of 'The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less'.



Click here to view the full video.