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Tasks for the week (Happiness and decision making)
- Read selected pages - Schwartz, Barry. The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less
- Write a paragraph about a decision you made that you regretted after you made it. (What was the decision, why did you initially regret it, and how did you come to see its positive side?)
- Write reaction paper #3: a two-page paper about material from weeks 7–10
- Write two questions about this week’s topic
Task 1 - Summary of The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less - Schwartz, Barry
The Basic Idea
The writer talks about how having too many choices can be confusing. He uses the example of picking milk at a store. When you go to buy milk, there are many kinds to choose from. You might think having lots of options is good, but sometimes it makes it hard to decide. This is called the paradox of choice. It means that having too many choices can make it tough to make a decision. When you're picking something simple like milk, it's easy to know what you like. But when there are too many options, it gets harder to choose, and you might not feel as satisfied with your decision. Having too many choices can actually make it harder for us to feel free and happy with what we pick. In today's world, where there are so many options for everything, making decisions and feeling content can be a challenge.
History
Barry Schwartz popularized the concept, questioning the assumed link between choice, freedom, and happiness. Schwartz discovered that despite an unprecedented array of choices in modern Western societies, satisfaction hasn't risen as expected. While freedom and choice are central tenets, Schwartz argued that an excess of options can lead to decision paralysis and decreased happiness.
Consequences
As society advances, the abundance of choices, from groceries to life partners via dating apps, has increased. While more choices may seem beneficial, it often leads to decision overload and dissatisfaction. The paradox of choice reveals that having endless options can be overwhelming, particularly for maximizers who seek the best choice. Social media and technology contribute to this phenomenon by exposing numerous possibilities. Schwartz advocates for the idea that well-being comes from self-determination within certain constraints, challenging the notion that unlimited freedom of choice leads to happiness.
Controversy
The paradox of choice claims that an abundance of options can lead to decision dissatisfaction. However, critics argue that evidence, such as Starbucks' success with a vast menu, contradicts this notion. Single-choice aversion suggests people may be unwilling to choose an attractive option without alternatives. Schwartz acknowledges the conflicting findings and proposes finding a balance between too many and too few options for optimal happiness, emphasizing the need for nuanced research on the impact of choice.
The original Paradox of Choice study
In a 2001 study by Sheena Iyengar and Mark Lepper, participants of the study, encountered displays of gourmet jam with either 24 or 6 varieties. While more people tried jams with 24 options, those with 6 options were more likely to make a purchase. The study suggests that while many options may attract initial interest, too many choices can lead to decision paralysis and decreased likelihood of making a decision.
Task 2 - About a decision you made that you regretted after you made it
I am easily swayed by people’s advice and I take up projects without thinking about the end in mind (Habit 2 Begin With the End in Mind - Steven R Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People).
Let me talk about my decision that I regretted.
What was the decision?
The decision was
- to be part of a movement called Appreciative Inquiry
- to attend the Appreciative Inquiry World Conference 2012 happening in Ghent, Belgium.
Why did I regret the decision?
Someone spoke to me about the Conference. I was excited - I would get to meet people from hundreds of countries, I would meet ‘the’ David Cooperrider himself, the originator of the concept, in flesh and blood.
Of course I enjoyed the five days of the world conference. But today it is just a memory and a regret of waste of time and money because
- I did not know what to make of the learning I got from the conference
- I did not go back to the fraternity of Appreciative Inquiry to check how I can get the ROI (Return of investment) out of this
- I did not ask these questions to the person who advised me to attend the conference nor to myself before signing up
- What benefits will I get from attending the conference?
- How will it help me in my career in the short/ long run?
- What types of investments will I have to make in terms of time, money, efforts, social support in the short/ long term?
- Which current activities will I need to sacrifice if I take up Appreciative Inquiry as a career? And is it worth it?
- Is Appreciative Inquiry in line with my Ikigai?
How did I come to see its positive side?
Only now do I write about the positive side. I did not do this exercise in the past.
- Appreciative Inquiry is a popular method for identifying and building on an organization's strengths, successes, and positive aspects to foster positive change
- I remember that I heard so many stories of tackling huge organizational changes using the principles of Appreciation Inquiry.
- I got to know about their 5D model (Define, Discover, Dream, Design, Deliver)
- I got to hear through different case studies how they used collaboration, impactful questioning, study of other successes to bring about big change in their organizations
- They are a positive huge community. I can always reach out to them and get their help, even after so many years, if and when I need support
Task 3 - Write reaction paper #3: about material from weeks 7–10
Week 7: Happiness in relationships
Summary
In the chapters 'A New Model for Intimacy' by His Holiness the Lama, Dalai, and Howard C. Cutler and 'Positive Interpersonal Relationships' by Christopher Peterson, the authors delve into the intricacies of human connections and the elements that contribute to a fulfilling life.
Alongside these insightful chapters, the Friendship Maps exercise offers a practical approach to understanding the dynamics of friendships. In this reaction paper, I will share my reflections on the key ideas presented, analyze the effectiveness of the Friendship Maps exercise, and explore my thoughts on what makes for a good romantic relationship and healthy relationships with parents.
Assignments/ tasks | Outcome/ What I learnt | The interesting part |
Chapter 5. “A New Model for Intimacy.” - His Holiness the Lama, Dalai and Howard C. Cutler. The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living | Cultivating compassion to create positive connections Building closeness with as many people as possible | A new meaning of intimacy - ‘embracing diverse forms of connection’ (interpersonal connections, compassion/ caring for others, shared experiences, cultural and global connections, connection with nature, spiritual connections) |
Chapter 10. “Positive Interpersonal Relationships.” - Peterson, Christopher. A Primer in Positive Psychology | Impact of love on well-being and its biochemical basis involving oxytocin | |
Friendship maps exercise | The Friendship Maps can serve as a visual reminder of the depth and richness of your friendship | Found one more friendship map from the book - A Creative Guide to Exploring Your Life by Ramsay, Graham Gordon, and Holly Barlow Sweet - This helps you identify friends who contributed to my improvement as a human being |
What makes for a good romantic relationship | Some common aspects - Respecting spouse’s family Willingness to make personal sacrifices Open and honest communication Creating magic moments | Eastern countries depend on horoscope matching to ensure Happy marriages |
What makes healthy relationships with parents | Investing in quality time Respecting boundaries Showing gratitude Forgiveness |
Week 8: Wellness and flow
The readings from Csikszentmihalyi's "Happiness Revisited" and Peterson's "Wellness" provided insightful perspectives. Additionally, engaging in class exercises involving yoga and meditation, along with completing a wellness questionnaire, offered practical experiences to reflect upon.
Assignments/ tasks | Outcome/ What I learnt | The interesting part |
Read Chapter 1. “Happiness Revisited.” - Csikszentmihalyi, Mihali | The concept of "flow" - The state of mind when we are fully engaged in challenging and meaningful activities Happiness = making various aspects of life more enjoyable | Aristotle asserted over two millennia ago that happiness is the ultimate pursuit, yet our understanding of it hasn't progressed much since then |
Read Chapter 9. “Wellness.” - Peterson, Christopher | Happiness is holistic well-being (physical, mental, and emotional) | |
Class Exercises - Yoga and Meditation | Yoga and meditation help release the four happiness chemicals. Needs further study though | |
Fill out the wellness questionnaire | Good questions to keep working on | Good to know I was around 8/10 on Wellness Need to work on this - ‘When things go wrong, it generally takes me a long time to get back to normal’ |
Week 9: Happiness and diversity (cultural and religious)
The Geography of Bliss - Weiner's account of happiness in the Netherlands introduces the concept that happiness can be quantified
Cultural and generational factors significantly shape perceptions of happiness. Practices, values, and societal expectations contribute to diverse definitions and pursuits of happiness across the globe and through different age groups.
Assignments/ tasks | Outcome/ What I learnt | The interesting part |
Read Chapter 1. “The Netherlands: Happiness is a Number.” - Weiner, Eric. The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World | The world, overall, is a happy place The new brain is activated when pleasant pictures are shown and the old brain (the limbic system) when unpleasant pictures are shown Poverty is not conducive to happiness Tolerant people tend to be happy | Got to know about Ruut Veenhoven and his World Database of Happiness Reverse causality (chicken and egg problem for social scientists) |
Investigates how different cultures and generations define happiness | Communist and fascist cultures tell their people what brings them happiness | Used Lewis model to identify countries from different cultures |
Make a two-minute clip of a videotaped/ audio interview with one grandparent or someone from a different culture about their views on happiness | Happiness is a decision Cultivating happiness is a project of its own Conducting an interview with someone from a different culture allows for firsthand insights | I asked this question to my relatives and friends and got some great answers |
Week 10: Happiness and decision making
Assignments/ tasks | Outcome/ What I learnt | The interesting part |
Read selected pages - Schwartz, Barry. The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less | Questioning the assumed link between choice, freedom, and happiness Excess of options can lead to decision paralysis and decreased happiness | |
Write a paragraph about a decision you made that you regretted after you made it | Before making a big decision, you have to do the ROI study You may regret in future when you choose a decision that is forced upon you |
Task 4 - Write two questions about this week’s topic
How should we celebrate when we make a decision when we are given too many options to choose from?
How does regret impact happiness?
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