This is a Lexicon entry: the mechanism, when it shows up, and the countermeasure. The full correction, with real-world cases and the audit prompt, hasn't been written yet.
Definition
Psychologist Barry Schwartz's finding that beyond a moderate number of options, increasing choice reduces satisfaction. The mechanism has two components: choice overload (more options make decisions harder, produce more anxiety and increase the probability of choosing nothing) and post-choice regret (with more alternatives foregone, the best unchosen option looms larger, producing dissatisfaction even when the chosen option is objectively good). The classic study: a supermarket sampling table with 24 jam varieties attracted more browsers but produced fewer purchases than a table with 6 varieties. More choice increased interest but reduced decision.
When it shows up
Product design, retail, career decisions, relationship decisions, medical treatment choices, financial product selection, subscription tiers. Any context where an abundance of options is intended as a benefit.
Failure mode
Providing excessive options in the belief that more choice is always better, producing decision paralysis, lower conversion and reduced satisfaction with chosen options. Designing for maximum optionality rather than optimal decision architecture.
Countermeasure
Curate options rather than maximise them. Default to a recommended option. For sequential decisions, eliminate options progressively rather than presenting all at once. Research your own satisficer/maximiser orientation - if you tend toward maximising, set artificial option limits before evaluating.
Related traps
Also connected in the map1 more, locked
Credit & first seen
DiscoveredSchwartz, B. (2004). The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less. Ecco. Iyengar, S. & Lepper, M. (2000). When choice is demotivating. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79(6). source ↗
Also revealed
Entry #71 of 631 in The Lexicon · see the full Lexicon