Sheena Iyengar on the Situation of Choice

From Youtube: “Choice is a powerful tool to define ourselves and mold our lives — but what do we know about the wants, motivations, biases, and influences that aid or hinder our endeavors?”

In her new book The Art of Choosing, Columbia University professor [and Situationist friend] Sheena Iyengar, a leading expert on choice, sets herself the task of helping us become better choosers. She asks fascinating questions: Is the desire for choice innate or created by culture? Why do we sometimes choose against our best interests? How much control do we really have over what we choose? Ultimately, she offers unexpected and profound answers, drawn from her award-winning, discipline-spanning research.

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For a sample of related Situationist posts, see “Sheena Iyengar’s Situation and the Situation of Choosing,” “Sheena Iyengar on ‘The Multiple Choice Problem,’”“Can’t Get No Satisfaction!: The Law Student’s Job Hunt – Part II,” “Dan Gilbert on the Situation of Our Decisions,”and “Just Choose It! “  To review all of the Situationist posts that discuss the problem with, or illusion of, choices, click here.

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