choice is a pretty well explored area from what I can tell. Generally it is believed that choice is a good thing, but I've never been so sure.
Someone far cleverer than me once said that one option is no choice, two is a dilemma and three is much better. I tend to agree with this sentiment: one option is rubbish, it's dictatorial and leaves you wanting more. Two options give you no room to compare the market. Three is enough to get your teeth in to, whereas more than that makes the entire process too complicated.
Of course, the actual numbers are rather synthetic - the context detemines the break points - but there are very few areas where more than a small handful of genuine choices are a good thing. Unless you have completely limitless time, but if that's the case, choice tends not to be an either/or option.
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Date: 2007-12-04 12:02 am (UTC)Someone far cleverer than me once said that one option is no choice, two is a dilemma and three is much better.
I tend to agree with this sentiment: one option is rubbish, it's dictatorial and leaves you wanting more. Two options give you no room to compare the market. Three is enough to get your teeth in to, whereas more than that makes the entire process too complicated.
Of course, the actual numbers are rather synthetic - the context detemines the break points - but there are very few areas where more than a small handful of genuine choices are a good thing. Unless you have completely limitless time, but if that's the case, choice tends not to be an either/or option.