24.1 Satisficer or Maximiser? Sparks et al. 2012 If you spend hours deliberating over something as trivial as a new jumper, then beware. Scientists say that makes you a ‘maximiser’ – and it could lead to a lifetime of misery. Failing to commit: Maximizers avoid commitment in a way that contributes to reduced satisfaction Erin A. Sparks, Joyce Ehrlinger, Richard P. Eibach Personality and Individual Differences 2012 52(1) 72–77 DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2011.09.002 Saturday 18 June 2022 07:49 PM
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Satisficer or Maximiser?
Sparks et al. 2012
If you spend hours deliberating over something as trivial as a new jumper, then beware.
Scientists say that makes you a ‘maximiser’ – and it could lead to a lifetime of misery.
Failing to commit: Maximizers avoid commitment in a way that contributes to reduced satisfactionErin A. Sparks, Joyce Ehrlinger, Richard P. EibachPersonality and Individual Differences 2012 52(1) 72–77 DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2011.09.002
A study has revealed two different types of decision-makers; 'maximisers' who obsess over every choice before and after making one while 'satisficers' are content with whatever decision they make.
According to researchers, maximisers' indecisiveness when it comes to making choices means they can never enjoy the 'psychological benefits' of commitment and cause themselves 'a lot of grief'.
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Satisficer or Maximiser?
Happier? 'Satisficers' content themselves with whatever decision they make
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The research also claimed this indecision and desire to make the right choice could drive off partners, cost them a potentially lucrative career and even damage their health.
This is because maximisers spend so much time dissecting their choice even after they've made it, meaning that they never really get to relax at having committed themselves or enjoy its eventual consequences.
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And maximisers even get nervous at the sight of a 'final reductions' sign during the Christmas sales, as they feel they're being forced into commitment.
Researchers say that maximisers' attitudes 'create a lot of stress,' and could potentially damage their love lives, careers and even their health.
The author, said: 'Maximisers miss out on the psychological benefits of commitment, leaving them less satisfied than their more contented counterparts, the satisficers.
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Maximisers: The indecision and desire to make the right choice could drive off partners.
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'Because maximisers want to be certain they have made the right choice, they are less likely to fully commit to a decision. And most likely, they are less happy in their everyday lives.
'Identifying the "right" choice can be a never-ending task for a maximiser. Feelings about which option is best can always change in the face of new information.
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'Also, a maximiser's lack of contentment creates a lot of stress, so the trait could potentially have an enormous effect on health.
'It's not just coffee-maker purchases they stress over - and second-guess themselves about - it's also the big life decisions such as choosing a mate, buying a house or applying for a job.
'Even after considerable deliberation before choosing a mate or a house, a high-level maximiser may still feel unhappy, even depressed, with his or her final decision.'
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But does it really matter?
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Liu et al. 2015
A survey of 140 participants who have accepted a job offer in the retail trade in the past six months in the USA was conducted.
The results show that compared to satisficers, maximisers exert more effort when searching job information, have higher uncertainty avoidance and need for cognition, and experience more post-decisional regret.
For recruitment information sources, while satisficers rely on their families and friends for information, maximisers are more likely to obtain job-related information from other sources such as online discussion forums.
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Even though some studies suggest that maximisers are unhappy with their choices, the research recommends that retail trade companies should not exclude maximisers from their recruitment pools.
Retailers should enhance their candidate pools with both maximisers and satisficers by managing different recruitment information sources.
