Date post: | 22-Nov-2014 |
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Paradox of Choice
Barry Schwartz
What is it about?
• Psychologist Barry Schwartz takes aim at a central tenet of western societies: freedom of choice. In Schwartz's estimation, choice has made us not freer but more paralyzed, not happier but more dissatisfied.
Barry Schwartz
• Barry Schwartz (born 1946) is an American psychologist. • studies the link between economics and psychology, offering
startling insights into modern life.
• "Whether choosing a health-care plan, choosing a college class or even buying a pair of jeans, Schwartz shows that a bewildering array of choices floods our exhausted brains, ultimately restricting instead of freeing us." Publisher’s Weekly
Comprehension / Vocabulary
• What is buyer’s remorse?• What happens when we have too many
choices?• Paralysis – We feel paralyzed.• Sky high expectations results in what?• Who is responsible for the dissatisfaction?• Modern affluent society
Discussion
• Is he right? Do you agree with the paradox of choice?• Is it true in your country? Which products do we
have too many of? Not enough?• How important is a ‘pleasant surprise’?• Is the paradox of choice similar to ‘mo money mo
problems?’• Will income redistribution make everyone better
off?
Discussion / Follow up
• Have you ever gone from a situation where you had only a few choices and then you had many choices?
• Have you ever gone from living at one level of income and then changed to significantly less?
• Are happiness and satisfaction totally relative concepts?
• Have we passed the point where more options are increasing our welfare?