Novice (set 2)

WHY LESS IN MORE

• The Contrast Effect

• Confirmation Bias

• The Baader-Meinhoff Phenomenon

• Zeigarnik Effect

• The Paradox of Choice

At a supermarket, two experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, 24 different types of jam were available to freely test and buy for a discounted price. In the second experiment, only 6 different types of jam were available to freely test and buy for a discounted price. The first experiment attracted 60% of shoppers and 3% bought jam. The second experiment attracted 40% of the shoppers and 30% bought jam. Even though more shoppers were initially attracted to more variety…...With less choices the supermarket was able to sell 10x the amount of jam. This is the paradox of choice.

• The Contrast Effect
• Confirmation Bias
• The Baader-Meinhoff Phenomenon
• Zeigarnik Effect
• The Paradox of Choice

For most people a large selection of any given product is seen as a net positive. But once the number of choices increases past a threshold, our subjective state becomes negative and leads to inner paralysis and decision fatigue.

• The Contrast Effect
• Confirmation Bias
• The Baader-Meinhoff Phenomenon
• Zeigarnik Effect
• The Paradox of Choice

The paradox of choice can also be found in modern day dating. In the past, you would marry people you met locally. Nowadays we have too many choices, and you may think that all that variety would make it easier to find the perfect partner, but more optimal decisions can be made when given a smaller amount of options to choose from.

• The Contrast Effect
• Confirmation Bias
• The Baader-Meinhoff Phenomenon
• Zeigarnik Effect
• The Paradox of Choice

When faced with a small number of options, people can easily weigh the pros and cons of each and be fairly satisfied with whichever option they chose. When faced with a large number of options, knowing which option is best becomes more difficult, the more options there are, the more chances there are of feeling regret. With More options , the more you feel the need to compare. The attractive features of the alternatives, diminish the satisfaction in your final choice.

• The Contrast Effect
• Confirmation Bias
• The Baader-Meinhoff Phenomenon
• Zeigarnik Effect
• The Paradox of Choice

Even if we have made an excellent decision, the opportunity costs of the other options subtract from the overall satisfaction of our choice. Too many choices also often leads to people not making any choice and giving up on the endeavor altogether.

• The Contrast Effect
• Confirmation Bias
• The Baader-Meinhoff Phenomenon
• Zeigarnik Effect
• The Paradox of Choice

So if you find yourself awake at night with these incomplete tasks stressing you out, grab a pen and pad and write down a quick plan to get the job done. Getting the tasks out of your head and onto paper combats this effect and will give you more peace of mind.

• The Contrast Effect
• Confirmation Bias
• The Baader-Meinhoff Phenomenon
• Zeigarnik Effect
• The Paradox of Choice

However further research into the Zeigarnik Effect found that simply having or writing down a plan to complete the task was enough to stop the effect.

• The Contrast Effect
• Confirmation Bias
• The Baader-Meinhoff Phenomenon
• Zeigarnik Effect
• The Paradox of Choice

Originally it was believed that the only way to prevent the Zeigarnik Effect from gnawing away at our thoughts was to complete the incomplete tasks.

• The Contrast Effect
• Confirmation Bias
• The Baader-Meinhoff Phenomenon
• Zeigarnik Effect
• The Paradox of Choice

To put simply, Incomplete tasks will stick around in our memory longer than completed tasks.

• The Contrast Effect
• Confirmation Bias
• The Baader-Meinhoff Phenomenon
• Zeigarnik Effect
• The Paradox of Choice