"A landmark study by Barry Schwartz and colleagues found that people who strive to make the best possible choice, known as maximizers, often experience greater decisional paralysis and regret, and lower life satisfaction compared to those who settle for an option that is simply "good enough," known as satisficers."
"The research, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, showed that maximizers tend to be less satisfied with their decisions and report lower levels of happiness, optimism, and self-esteem. In other words, the pursuit of the perfect choice can quietly undermine well-being."
"Smart people tend to set high standards for themselves. While this trait can drive success, it also increases the likelihood of becoming a maximizer, someone who feels compelled to find the absolute best option before committing. The 2002 study by Schwartz and colleagues introduced the concept of maximizing versus satisficing."
"The logic seems straightforward: If you are determined to find the best option, you must compare every possible alternative. But this pursuit often creates an exhausting cycle. Instead of choosing efficiently, maximizers continue searching for better possibilities, even after they have found a good one."
A world with abundant options does not necessarily make decisions easier. Psychology research links the drive to make the best possible choice with greater decisional paralysis, regret, and lower life satisfaction. People who maximize report lower happiness, optimism, and self-esteem than people who choose an option that is simply good enough. Highly intelligent and analytical individuals often struggle because they set high standards and feel compelled to find the absolute best alternative. This mindset can require comparing many possibilities, creating an exhausting cycle. Even after finding a good option, maximizers may keep searching for better ones, undermining satisfaction with the final decision.
#decision-making #maximizing-vs-satisficing #regret-and-regret-minimization #psychology-of-choice #perfectionism
Read at Psychology Today
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