The burden of excessive choices and the appeal of personalized curation

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The speaker discusses the concept of personalized curation, where items are handpicked based on individual preferences, reducing analysis paralysis. This idea resonates with the notion put forth by psychologist Barry Schwartz, who coined the term 'tyranny of choice' to describe the overwhelming nature of modern society. Schwartz also introduced the 'paradox of choice', illustrating how an abundance of options can lead to feelings of tyranny rather than freedom. The conversation delves into the experience of being overwhelmed by choices, even in trivial matters like buying jeans.

Why do we get overwhelmed when we have too many choices? Should we make our own decisions or copy other people's? And how can Angela manage her sock inventory?

SOURCES:
- Arie Kruglanski, professor of psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park.
- Katy Milkman, professor of operations, information, and decisions at the University of Pennsylvania.
- Sylvia Plath, 20th-century American novelist and poet.
- Barry Schwartz, professor of social theory and social action at Swarthmore College.
- Herbert Simon, professor of computer science and psychology at Carnegie Mellon University.
- Will Smith, actor and film producer.

RESOURCES:
- "Choice Deprivation, Choice Overload, and Satisfaction with Choices Across Six Nations," by Elena Reutskaja, Nathan N. Cheek, Barry Schwartz, et al. (Journal of International Marketing, 2021).
- Will, by Will Smith with Mark Manson (2021).
- "Can’t Decide What to Stream? Netflix’s New Feature Will Choose for You," by Katie Deighton (The Wall Street Journal, 2021).
- The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less, by Barry Schwartz (2004).
- "The Tyranny of Choice," by Barry Schwartz (Scientific American, 2004).
- "Maximizing Versus Satisficing: Happiness Is a Matter of Choice," by Barry Schwartz, Andrew Ward, John Monterosso, Sonja Lyubomirsky, Katherine White, and Darrin R. Lehman (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2002).
- "Self-Determination: The Tyranny of Freedom," by Barry Schwartz (American Psychologist, 2000).
- "To 'Do the Right Thing' or to 'Just Do It': Locomotion and Assessment as Distinct Self-Regulatory Imperatives," by Arie Kruglanski, Erik P. Thompson, E. Tory Higgins, M. Nadir Atash, Antonio Pierro, James Y. Shah, and Scott Spiegel (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2000).
- "Rational Choice and the Structure of the Environment," by Herbert Simon (Psychological Review, 1956).
- Administrative Behavior, by Herbert Simon (1947).