Choice anxiety
From PhiloWiki
Do increasing choices lead to increased happiness or to increased happiness?
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- "The main point is simple – no matter how you cut it, things are getting better. It is refreshing to see a clear recognition of the progress that has been made in a relatively short period of time. In an age where we are bombarded with various crises – global warming, pollution, guns, education, etc. – on a daily basis, the reader will be surprised to see just how much things have improved. Easterbrook points out that in trying to attract viewers and readers, the media often distorts the severity of issues at hand, completely neglecting how things have progressed over time. The one disappointing aspect of these chapters is that there is no real discussion of the mechanism that has caused this progress over time...
- In addition to discussing the surveys, Easterbrook provides the reader with some potential reasons for the apparent paradox. One potential explanation offered is “choice anxiety.” In the past, many individuals had few options as a result of limited income or a limited amount of goods and services available. However, Easterbrook argues, there is a flip side to the stress of having too few options. Just as having too few options can be stressful, so too can having too many options. Because there are so many goods and services to choose from in an ever-increasing range of categories, the simplest choices become stressful. According to Easterbrook, the consumer can never be sure if he is choosing the right product or service, leading to stress and unhappiness."
