The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos5 Nov 2019

Decision Fatigue: The Psychology of Choice Overload

We tend to think having more options is better, but the science shows too many choices can drain mental energy, increase anxiety, and make us feel worse about making decisions, even when those decisions seem trivial. Dr. Laurie explores the psychology of choice overload and decision fatigue—including why we wrongly prioritize more choices over greater well-being and how constant decision making can undermine long-term happiness. She also speaks with a woman who radically simplified her life just by cleaning out her wardrobe.

Experts Mentioned:
- Dr. Sheena Iyengar, S.T. Lee Professor of Business, Columbia Univesirty
- Barry Schwartz, Dorwin P. Cartwright Professor Emeritus in Social Theory and Social Action, Swarthmore College and Visiting Professor, University of California, Berkeley
- Mark Lepper, Albert Ray Lang Professor of Psychology, Emeritus, Stanford University
- Peter Ubel, Madge and Dennis T. McLawhorn University Distinguished Professor
Professor of Business Administration, Professor of Medicine, Professor in Population Health Sciences Duke University

Resources Mentioned:
- "When Choice is Demotivating: Can One Desire Too Much of a Good Thing?" (Personality Process and Individual Differences, 2000)
- The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz (2004)
- Karen Quinlan Supreme Court Case
- Courtney Carver and Project 333

Related episodes of "The Happiness Lab":
- "Reconnect with the Moment"
- "You Only Live Once...So Commit"
- "How to Make Better Choices (with Barry Schwartz)"
- "You Can Change"

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(272)

The Life-Changing Power of a Sabbatical

It’s hard to focus on wellbeing when we’re expected to work nonstop until retirement. Taking a break from time to time should be a given, not a privilege. Dr. Laurie works in one of the few industries...

17 Aug 48min

You're Actually Not Bothering People Enough

Most of us hate asking for favors. We worry about being a burden, coming across as needy, or facing rejection for asking too much. But what if our fear of bothering people is stopping us, and the peop...

10 Aug 26min

Why Being Alone Might Be Better Than You Think

In recent years, we've heard a lot of unsettling news about the loneliness epidemic and the dangers of social isolation. But could all this talk about loneliness paradoxically be making the problem......

3 Aug 46min

Winning the Lottery Could Ruin Your Life

What would it take to make you happier? A raise? A promotion? Getting into your dream school? Winning the lottery? It turns out that we’re surprisingly bad at predicting how these events will actually...

27 Jul 41min

Men Don’t Just Need Friends. They Need Bromance.

Men today are spending less time with friends, and many have no close friendships at all. Research shows that this lack of social connection can lead to serious long-term consequences for men's mental...

20 Jul 43min

Forget Small Talk: Go Deep Instead

Most of us default to small talk. It's polite, familiar, and feels like the safest way to start a conversation. But it may also be one of the biggest barriers to genuine connection. Dr. Laurie speaks ...

13 Jul 37min

What We Still Get Wrong About Happiness (Live at Dartmouth)

In this special live episode, Dr. Laurie takes the stage at Dartmouth College for a conversation with happiness historian Darrin McMahon. Together, they break down some of the biggest misconceptions a...

6 Jul 50min

Why the “Pursuit of Happiness” Is a Bad Idea

The “pursuit of happiness” is one of America’s founding ideals. But what if chasing happiness is actually making us feel worse? In honor of the 250th anniversary of American independence, Dr. Laurie t...

29 Jun 46min