FILE SELECTED // FILE 00
Choice Overload
“Fifty alternatives promise freedom. When do they begin charging for it in effort?”
01 / SUMMARY
In short
A large choice set can reduce motivation or satisfaction when comparison is difficult. Research does not find one uniform general effect: complexity, clear preferences, and expertise change the outcome.
03 / SCENE
In the wild
Choosing among thirty nearly identical funds may delay enrollment; a filter for time horizon and risk turns the catalog into a manageable decision.
04 / LIMIT
The limit
There is no magic number beyond which variety always harms; many people value having a broad selection.
FINAL NOTE
What remains
Reduce dimensions before options: set two or three criteria, then remove alternatives that fail them.