Psychology

Events

The Paradox of Choice

Date: April 4 2012 5:30pm Location: Templeton Campus Center - Council Chambers

We all agree that choice is good, and if some choice is good, then more choice must be better. Logically true, but /psycho/logically false. Research indicates that too much choice leads to paralysis, to bad decisions, and to dissatisfaction with good decisions. This is reflected in trivial decisions like what smart phone to buy, and in significant decisions like what job to take, or who to marry. And the choice problem is magnified for people whose aim is always to choose the “best.”

 

Lecture by Professor Barry Schwartz
Dorwin Cartwright Professor of Social Theory
Swarthmore College