Main menu For students For teachers Explore our subjects Student events & courses

Explore

More for students
Sign in

Free Economics resources

Topics

Paradox of Choice

The paradox of choice suggests that while some autonomy is essential for well-being, an abundance of options often leads to anxiety, decision paralysis, and lower satisfaction. When faced with too many alternatives, the cognitive burden of comparing them increases, while the fear of making a suboptimal "wrong" choice—and the subsequent regret—diminishes our overall contentment with the final selection.

See also