Advertisement

Updated October 3rd, 2021 at 20:05 IST

New study reveals how 'proliferation of choice' impacts individuals in community

A new study has discovered the impact of proliferation of choice on the psyche of a person and society. The study's findings were published in the PNAS Journal

Reported by: Aparna Shandilya
Study on human psyche
Image: Pixabay | Image:self
Advertisement

A new study has discovered the impact of the proliferation of choice on the psyche of the person and society. The study's findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal.

As per ANI reports, Shilpa Madan, an assistant professor of marketing at the Pamplin College of Business, remarked, "America is known as the republic of choice. Simply go to the supermarket, and there's a mind-boggling variety of just cookies."

According to the Food Marketing Institute, a trade group, the number of products in the average supermarket has surged from about 9,000 to nearly 47,000 in the last three decades.

Madan showed in this study how the importance of choice alone can have a variety of profound psychological impact, including individual empowerment.

According to Madan, ANI reported, "People become more self-reliant and concerned about their own interests just by thinking about making decisions. People become more individualistic as a result of it."

Madan pointed out that these decisions don't have to be life-changing in order to make an influence.

"You choose to like a few Instagram pictures while ignoring many others. The simple fact that you have a choice, that you are in control, helps people feel independent and significant. We are believed to make choices that form our environment, but most of us are unaware of how our decisions shape us," Madan elaborated.

As Madan noted, we may be experiencing those negative implications today during the COVID pandemic as people increasingly act in their own best interests and choose to be independent by refusing to wear masks and get vaccinated. Individualism, on the other hand, could have detrimental effects on communal well-being too.

Her research shows that the impact is the same regardless of culture. Madan continued,

"As researchers, we're looking for strategies that can mitigate the negative impact of choice on collective well-being in specific circumstances. What kinds of interventions can we devise to get people to wear masks, get vaccinated, or care for the environment?"

Moreover, Madan emphasised that choices should be made slowly and consciously. She quoted the Virginia Tech slogan to highlight their work.

"This is reflected in Virginia Tech's motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve). Make decisions that are not only self-serving but also beneficial to everyone around you," Madan concluded.  

(With inputs from ANI)

Image: Pixabay

Advertisement

Published October 3rd, 2021 at 20:05 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending Quicks

RR vs DC
a few seconds ago
File Photo of PM Narendra Modi
3 minutes ago
BCAS started the continuous exercise of monitoring the time of arrival of baggage at belts of six major airports in January 2024.
7 minutes ago
Bribery
8 minutes ago
Kashmiri Lakes
11 minutes ago
Bollywood actor Govinda
15 minutes ago
Bill Gates and PM Modi to Discuss ‘From AI to Digital Payments’
17 minutes ago
Elon Musk X lawsuit
18 minutes ago
Government bonds
18 minutes ago
Beans
21 minutes ago
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo