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Why do we get overwhelmed when we have too many choices? Should we make our own decisions or copy other people's? And how can Angela manage her sock inventory?

• SOURCES:
  • Arie Kruglanski, professor of psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park.
  • Katy Milkman, professor of operations, information, and decisions at the University of Pennsylvania.
  • Sylvia Plath, 20th-century American novelist and poet.
  • Barry Schwartz, professor of social theory and social action at Swarthmore College.
  • Herbert Simon, professor of computer science and psychology at Carnegie Mellon University.
  • Will Smith, actor and film producer.

• RESOURCES:
  • "Choice Deprivation, Choice Overload, and Satisfaction with Choices Across Six Nations," by Elena Reutskaja, Nathan N. Cheek, Barry Schwartz, et al. (Journal of International Marketing, 2021).
  • Will, by Will Smith with Mark Manson (2021).
  • "Can’t Decide What to Stream? Netflix’s New Feature Will Choose for You," by Katie Deighton (The Wall Street Journal, 2021).
  • The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less, by Barry Schwartz (2004).
  • "The Tyranny of Choice," by Barry Schwartz (Scientific American, 2004).
  • "Maximizing Versus Satisficing: Happiness Is a Matter of Choice," by Barry Schwartz, Andrew Ward, John Monterosso, Sonja Lyubomirsky, Katherine White, and Darrin R. Lehman (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2002).
  • "Self-Determination: The Tyranny of Freedom," by Barry Schwartz (American Psychologist, 2000).
  • "To 'Do the Right Thing' or to 'Just Do It': Locomotion and Assessment as Distinct Self-Regulatory Imperatives," by Arie Kruglanski, Erik P. Thompson, E. Tory Higgins, M. Nadir Atash, Antonio Pierro, James Y. Shah, and Scott Spiegel (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2000).
  • "Rational Choice and the Structure of the Environment," by Herbert Simon (Psychological Review, 1956).
  • Administrative Behavior, by Herbert Simon (1947).

• EXTRA:
  • "Do You Mind if I Borrow Your Personality?" by No Stupid Questions (2022).
  • "How Much Should We Be Able to Customize Our World?" by No Stupid Questions (2021).
  • "Are You a Maximizer or a Satisficer?" by No Stupid Questions (2020).
  • Cars.com Superbowl Ad (2009).