The Paradox of Choice
We have all had the feeling of too many choices. Have you ever been to a restaurant with a huge menu and it is paralyzing? Too many things look good. Recently I was reading about a study from 2000 designed to explore the impact of choice on decision-making and consumer behavior.
The study was conducted at a gourmet food store in California, where researchers set up a display of jams for customers to sample. On one weekend, the researchers offered a display of six different jams, and 24 different jams on another weekend.
The results showed that more customers stopped at the display when there were 24 jams, but customers were 10 times more likely to purchase jam when there were only six options.
Having more options can seem appealing, but it can also make it harder to make a decision and has the strange effect of reducing satisfaction with the choices that are made (buyers remorse, the grass is always greener on the other side…).
The same can be argued about the dating world and the prominence of dating apps…having too many options can actually make it harder for people to make a decision and can lead to decision paralysis or dissatisfaction with their choices.
Having access to a seemingly endless supply of potential partners can lead to a phenomenon known as "choice overload." Research has shown that when people are presented with too many options, they tend to become more critical and less satisfied with their eventual choice. This can lead to a cycle of endlessly swiping or searching for the "perfect" partner, without ever actually committing to a relationship.
Having a large number of potential partners can make it more difficult for individuals to focus on any one person, leading to a lack of investment in the relationship or commitment issues. Some experts suggest that limiting the number of options in the dating pool can actually lead to better decision-making and greater satisfaction in relationships.
So in many ways, the tools we humans have created to make dating easier have had the opposite effect of complicating matters more. Stay tuned for some tips to create your blueprint and setting your guidelines for dating more effectively…
Are you interested in working on your personal development? Are you looking for a life coach or a life consultant? Are you feeling stagnant? Do you want to jumpstart change?
My transformational approach is a process where awareness, alignment, and action work together as catalysts to create momentum for change.
*Awareness is knowing what you genuinely want and need.
*Alignment is the symmetry between our values and our actions. It means our inner and outer worlds match.
*Action is when you are conscious that what you say, do and think are in harmony with your values.
Together we build an understanding of what you want to accomplish, and delve deeply into building awareness around any thoughts and assumptions that you may already have. To truly transform your life, I will empower you to rethink what’s possible for you.
__
Learn more about my approach to life consulting and relationship coaching here or get in touch for your free 30-minute consultation here! Don’t forget to follow along @LilyManne on social for more regular updates!
