The Paradox of Choice

1. Logic suggests that having options allows people to select precisely what makes them happy. But, as studies show, abundant choice often makes for misery. Americans today choose among more options in more parts of life than has ever been possible before. To some extent, the opportunity to choose enhances our lives. It’s only logical to think that if some choice is good, more is better. Yet recent research strongly suggests that, psychologically, this assumption is wrong. Although some choice is undoubtedly better than none, more is not always better than less.

2. This evidence is consistent with large-scale social trends. Assessments of well-being by various social scientists reveal that increased choice and affluence have been accompanied by decreased well-being in the United States and most other affluent societies. Thus, it seems that as society grows wealthier and people become freer to do whatever they want, they get less happy. In the era of greater personal autonomy, choice and control, what could account for this degree of misery?

3. The research has been recently conducted that offers insight into why many people end up unhappy rather than pleased when their options expand. Scientists marked a distinction between “maximizers” (those who always aim to make the best possible choice) and “satisfiers” (those who always aim for “good enough”, whether or not better selections might be out there). Maximizers are the least happy with the fruits of their efforts. When they compare themselves with others, they get little pleasure from finding out that they did better and substantial dissatisfaction from finding out that they did worse. They are more prone to experiencing regret after a purchase, and if their acquisition disappoints them, their sense of well-being takes longer to recover. They also tend to brood more than satisfiers do.

4. The consequences of unlimited choice may go far beyond mild disappointment, to suffering. Americans show a decrease in happiness and an increase in clinical depression. The relation between choice and well-being is complicated. A life without significant choice would be unlivable. Being able to choose has enormous important positive effects on us. But only up to the point. As the number of choices we face increases, the psychological benefits we derive start to level off.

9. Прочтите весь текст и ответьте письменно на следующие вопросы.

1) What enhances our life according to the text?

2) Why is the relation between choice and well-being complicated?

3) What consequences does the unlimited choice lead to?

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