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Too Many Choices Can Lead to Anxiety and Fatigue, Study Finds
🇰🇷 South Korea /Culture & Society

Too Many Choices Can Lead to Anxiety and Fatigue, Study Finds

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Excessive choices can lead to anxiety and fatigue, rather than better decisions, according to research.
  • Studies show people tend to delay or abandon decisions when faced with too many options, impacting everything from retirement plans to grocery purchases.
  • Experts advise reducing unnecessary choices to lessen mental burden, suggesting seeking professional help for significant decisions and relying on recommendations for minor ones.

The common belief that more choices lead to better decisions is being challenged by a growing body of research. Psychologist Barry Schwartz, author of 'The Paradox of Choice,' highlights that numerous studies demonstrate how an overabundance of options can actually increase anxiety and fatigue. This phenomenon often causes individuals to postpone or completely abandon decision-making.

There are hundreds of studies showing that too much of a good thing can be a problem.

— Barry SchwartzBarry Schwartz, an emeritus professor of psychology at Swarthmore College and author of 'The Paradox of Choice,' explains the research on choice overload.

Evidence for this paradox is seen in various real-world scenarios. For instance, U.S. prescription drug insurance and 401(k) retirement plans have shown lower enrollment rates when more options are available. Similarly, grocery stores found that customers bought more jam when presented with six varieties compared to twenty-four. University students also submitted assignments at a higher rate when given six topic choices instead of thirty.

People tend to delay or even abandon decisions when there are too many choices.

— Barry SchwartzSchwartz elaborates on the behavioral impact of having an excessive number of options.

Schwartz explains that an increased number of choices can lead to a state of 'paralysis by analysis,' where people feel capable of doing anything but struggle to decide what to do. Even after making a difficult choice, the lingering thought that a better option might have existed can diminish satisfaction. Daniel Willingham, a psychology professor at the University of Virginia, adds that the brain is wired to rely on habit and routine rather than constantly solving new problems, which is why we often stick to familiar paths.

The brain is designed to solve new problems less than to use existing experiences.

— Daniel WillinghamDaniel Willingham, a psychology professor at the University of Virginia, explains the neurological basis for habit formation.

To combat this mental overload, experts recommend consciously reducing the number of choices we face. For significant financial decisions, seeking guidance from professionals is advised. For less critical choices, like purchasing goods, leveraging recommendations from friends or acquaintances can simplify the process and reduce decision fatigue.

Reducing unnecessary choices can lessen mental burden.

— Daniel WillinghamWillingham offers advice on how to manage decision fatigue.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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