Extreme Industrialization: Has America Gone Too Far?
Football season is finally here! Would now be the best time to invest in a new flat screen TV? I bet if I shopped around, I could find one for under $400. My chief concerns include: What store will have the best deal? What screen size do I want? Is any specific brand of better quality than the others on the market? Will the store offer a warranty? How about a delivery and return service? Do I want something I can mount to the wall or something that requires a specific TV stand? If I go with the TV stand, what are my options for that? Holy moly! Look at all of the decisions that need to be made just to upgrade to a newer television. My head hurts just thinking about all of the research I need …show more content…
With a plethora of TVs to choose from, Americans will either decide there are too many variables to consider and therefore not make a purchase, or they will decide to purchase a TV while knowing and understanding how their decision will probably result in not getting the best available option. Americans believe they have to have the best of everything; it’s just a matter of finding it or creating it. Secondly, opportunity cost lowers the satisfaction received from the purchase and enjoyment of using the TV. By purchasing option one, the missed benefits and satisfaction of option two (the best alternative) causes Americans to doubt their decision. Instead of enjoying the purchased TV, the mind can’t help but wonder if it would have been better to buy option two. Thirdly, due to a greater amount of choices to choose from, Americans expect perfection. Think back to the time when TVs were monstrous and only offered shows in black and white. It was easy to make a purchase because only one style was available. Without an alternative available, Americans were content with what they had. Nowadays, stores offer a large variety of TVs. This increase in alternatives leads many Americans to believe that at least one perfect TV exists; one that will fulfill every need and desire. Self-blame is the fourth and final attribute in “The Paradox of …show more content…
We are talking about theory after all; something that changes and grows over time as new philosophers and other experts, like psychiatrists and psychologists, conduct research to prove their hypotheses. In 2013, Derek Thompson, a writer for The Atlantic, wrote an article entitled “More is More: Why the Paradox of Choice Might Be a Myth.” His main argument is the success of Starbucks. If an overabundance of choice is supposed to have a “paralyzing” effect, how are companies like Starbucks still in business and making a profit? What Thompson fails to mention is how long it takes a customer to decide what to order. Did it take five seconds, five minutes, or maybe even fifteen minutes for them to look at the menu and decide? On top of that, how do consumers feel about waiting in line while a Starbucks novice tries to figure out what to order? More options might make company profits soar, but it doesn’t promote the mental health of
Football season is finally here! Would now be the best time to invest in a new flat screen TV? I bet if I shopped around, I could find one for under $400. My chief concerns include: What store will have the best deal? What screen size do I want? Is any specific brand of better quality than the others on the market? Will the store offer a warranty? How about a delivery and return service? Do I want something I can mount to the wall or something that requires a specific TV stand? If I go with the TV stand, what are my options for that? Holy moly! Look at all of the decisions that need to be made just to upgrade to a newer television. My head hurts just thinking about all of the research I need …show more content…
With a plethora of TVs to choose from, Americans will either decide there are too many variables to consider and therefore not make a purchase, or they will decide to purchase a TV while knowing and understanding how their decision will probably result in not getting the best available option. Americans believe they have to have the best of everything; it’s just a matter of finding it or creating it. Secondly, opportunity cost lowers the satisfaction received from the purchase and enjoyment of using the TV. By purchasing option one, the missed benefits and satisfaction of option two (the best alternative) causes Americans to doubt their decision. Instead of enjoying the purchased TV, the mind can’t help but wonder if it would have been better to buy option two. Thirdly, due to a greater amount of choices to choose from, Americans expect perfection. Think back to the time when TVs were monstrous and only offered shows in black and white. It was easy to make a purchase because only one style was available. Without an alternative available, Americans were content with what they had. Nowadays, stores offer a large variety of TVs. This increase in alternatives leads many Americans to believe that at least one perfect TV exists; one that will fulfill every need and desire. Self-blame is the fourth and final attribute in “The Paradox of …show more content…
We are talking about theory after all; something that changes and grows over time as new philosophers and other experts, like psychiatrists and psychologists, conduct research to prove their hypotheses. In 2013, Derek Thompson, a writer for The Atlantic, wrote an article entitled “More is More: Why the Paradox of Choice Might Be a Myth.” His main argument is the success of Starbucks. If an overabundance of choice is supposed to have a “paralyzing” effect, how are companies like Starbucks still in business and making a profit? What Thompson fails to mention is how long it takes a customer to decide what to order. Did it take five seconds, five minutes, or maybe even fifteen minutes for them to look at the menu and decide? On top of that, how do consumers feel about waiting in line while a Starbucks novice tries to figure out what to order? More options might make company profits soar, but it doesn’t promote the mental health of