Sheena Iyengar: How to make choosing easier

[EquinoxIV]

I like much choice in Supermarkets, it increases the chance to find exactly the products one really likes. This of course only works for products one buys frequently, so trial and error is possible.

[rhersh2011]

Housing, Real Estate

Human Resources and Fiscal Policy

[moutaz30]

This was interesting i must say! One of the few TED talks that i actually enjoyed!

[Apvatar3000]

Great speaker ! ...but I wonder why she didn't focus her discussions on the most important of all choices : career choices !!! ..where we'all keep ..at one point or another..."keep searching " :(

[PsychologyReaders]

This is a very interesting presentation. TED is a very good channel, one of the best on Youtube

[dylanlawless1]

How to make choosing easier.. talk about a first world problem.

[bwill325]

Nice talk, but holy crap her voice.........

[Aprilshowersss]

I reject this. I like choices. I've experienced both lifestyles in various ways

Example

I've lived in the USA near a Wegman's grocery store. It is a lot like the store she spoke about. I loved having options! I could find products of all kinds (mustards, cheeses,etc) to satisfy my every need and desire

I now live in Canada where the grocery store has maybe three options of mustard (non that I like) and I have yet to find a decent canned tomato anywhere, since most stores have the same crap.

[tigonridge]

@Aprilshowersss I guess you didn't watch the whole video. Her main message was how to make choosing from lots of choices easier; not that having lots of choices is bad. Her secondary message was that people tend to make worse choices, or no choices at all, when presented with more choices than they know how manage, hence the main message of her presentation.

[Aprilshowersss]

@tigonridge I watched it all. the grocery store was just an example. What I am saying is that I ,personally, thrive when I have more choices. I've never been overwhelmed by choices. It is shocking to me that people can be. To me, choices are a luxury and not something that requires "coping".

[tigonridge]

@Aprilshowersss I'm the same, but the point is, this presentation is to help those who are not like you and me when it comes to choices. There's no need to "reject" something simply because it isn't relevant to you; that's like rejecting cows just because you don't drink milk or eat meat.

[TheSyrupMan]

Sheena is a punk rocker. 

[TheChebka]

There must be a really handsome guy in the front row...

lol jk, awesome ideas!

[Cannibalzz]

This talk is very similar to her last TED talk, which was very similar to an earlier talk about choice by someone else... why does TED keep giving this woman talks???

[tigonridge]

@Cannibalzz Because they're all good quality. Are you paying for any of these videos? If you don't like it, don't watch.

[shrukejriwal]

she is indeed v good!

[warrior152]

Out of of all the women that have gave speeches or been on TED videos I think the woman at 4:10 makes the most sense

[matrixistrue]

@warrior152 SO HOT

[SujitKReddy]

Very inspirational talk! Definately a Sheena Iyengar fan here. I couldn`t speak without notes, let alone memorize all that info! Good on you! :)

[howdylee13]

That awkward moment when a blind person asks if the pictures felt more really to them than words. :P

[dookiecheez]

Due to the fact that I have to read ingredient lists (IL) on every food item I buy, I've come to find, as far as grocery shopping goes, the more brands of a product there are the more likely the IL is to be nearly identical. Less choice would save me time, but in some cases I worry if there were fewer choices I wouldn't be able to purchase certain things at all, as was the case with lactase enzymes. Though I do think short of "curing" me, the real problem is not with choice itself.

[shrukejriwal]

@dookiecheez

it would help if the grocery store categorized the various food items based on certain ingredients that are most critical to most consumers- the 3rd technique she mentioned- e.g. a very basic categorization could be veg or egg or with or without MSG. However understanding how consumers make choices itself is a black box for many!

[VoiceOfAleppo]

ah my favorite blind talker !!

[claudees]

It's not the quantity available in any hypermarket but quality that matters.  Well said. Enjoyed watching this video.

[wyldeman0O7]

Get a fucking flowchart already.

[DanHipp]

How to make choosing easier: Go Blind.

[bozolazic]

I choose not to decide.

[tillearlymorning]

@PrecisePuncher - It should be obvious that she's not telling us how to do groceries and save money. Understanding the reasoning behind the choices we are *given*, however, might just help with that.

[PrecisePuncher]

@tillearlymorning Yeah, she's propping up the illusion of choice when it comes to pension plans when there simply isn't any. I hope you know that.

[Tolstoievsky]

@PrecisePuncher b\c of determinism or b\c of the nature of the pension plan?

[PrecisePuncher]

@Tolstoievsky i got no problems with the philosophy - i like it! but it's a really bad practical example, because it perpetuates the myth of social security blanket. in other words, the money's not there. but it's a nice theory. it's kinda sad how so many intelligent people seem completely unaware of bare bones reality.

[SordoBjorn]

the car was an audi :P



[dieneddie]

Ive been shopping at ALDI for 6 months now.. I LOVE IT.. they have adopted the points shown in this video.

Its simple and effective quality grocery shopping...and the PRICES ARE AWESOME!!!

[hyd72111]

awesome.

[freedomcaller]

She is so awesome

[Mrmoc7]

watch?v=lDq9-QxvsNU

Her first TED talk. I knew I saw her before.

[Crazylalalalala]

Barry Schwartz: The paradox of choice was a better talk on this same topic. if anyone is interested.

[leekymkween]

@Crazylalalalala i agree

[cookieRyan1489]

Me before 1:47 ...why doesn't this chick open her eyes?

Me after 1:47 ...ohhh *feels bad*

[Crazylalalalala]

@cookieRyan1489

i was thinking the same thing.

[AmirsDilema]

Does one have to pay to attend these sermons ? 

[VoiceOfAleppo]

@AmirsDilema Yes

[lulz1978]

isn't this a dave matthews song?

[mitchelnext1]

4:10 why hello there mami

[squirreljester2]

Is she sleep talking?

[RollTheDice00]

@squirreljester2 >> Is she sleep talking?

She mentioned she's blind. You've probably missed it because of your sleep listening or sleep thinking condition.

[Alpinex105]

@squirreljester2 She's blind

[wevenhuis]

Has some interesting points. E.g. Enduser experience of certain OS and apps.

[TITOR002]

"This is during a time when we actually used to drink tap water"

What? You have to buy water!? I drink tap water all day.

[nathegera]

She sounds like Howard's wife. (The Big Bang Theory)

:D

[McProZak]

So this is why my supermarket always stops selling my favorite products! Theres an ancient saying for this on the internetz: *facepalm*

[GluttonForSex]

I'd do her.

[Valca000]

She chose not to open her eyes...

[brucesantos]

@Valca000 she is blind man, wake up!

[niriop]

@Valca000 She's virtually blind and only reacts to strong light

[arsenewever]

Apple, Steve

[Typho0n86]

@ 10:00 she says we have more info the first time around with just the text... Pictures contain more info than words... 'Picture is worth 1000 words' - i dont think she knows what she is talking about. Too many choices :S

[Typho0n86]

We make infinite choices in a day/week...

[vivi028]

@Typho0n86 doesn't that make the day/week infinitely long?

[Typho0n86]

@vivi028 DERRRRRRRRRRPPPPPPPPPP

[twistedbass15]

Four choices of major UK political parties but only one choice, government ?

[Slug99]

@twistedbass15 Well you just need to a choice to the ballot, "none of the above" if it gets enough votes no one wins and everyone is happy :D

[George4943]

We make choices two ways at once. Logic and emotion.

Do you have 700 choices? Analysis is useless. Just buy the first one you like.

Do you have 3 choices? Analysis helps determine which one to like. You buy one you like.

At one time folk liked Kodak products. Consumers purchased something else from the 700 choices they liked better.

[Tethloach1]

@George4943 strong negative emotions corrupt reasoning ,because their could be something on your mind emotional agonizing or disappointing. we should only buy when our minds are clear calm and relaxed.

[UtubeMyAccountName]

@Tethloach1 Strong positive emotions have the same effect. ;-)

[George4943]

@Tethloach1 "negative emotions corrupt reasoning" is not quite true. Negative emotions are part of the choice process. As UtubeMyAccountName mentions, positive too.

Only when there is a possibility and need for rational analysis is a calm mind needed.

[quaxk]

super annoying voice

[Zyziify]

but first how to make your eyes up

[frilink]

Not Bad........

[KhaosTy]

I looked at my youtube subscriptions and I was like "Sweet! Sheena Iyengar!"

[samlieu253195]

Apple knew this way back when, mirite?

[twistedbass15]

watch?v=lDq9-QxvsNU

[0MoTheG]

If managers make so many little quick choices than there is something wrong. I thought they would leave that to the better informed lower levels.

That is why the USA have a two party system. If you have just two choices, more people will vote for one of them and thus legitimize the system.

I like ALDI and hate big stores.

The more choices I have made the deeper I am invested, the less likely to abort.

[Lavaheadza]

thank you, this will definitely have an impact on my creative designs, thank you :-)

[kosmosis]

Ah, but the humour around here is sure improving.

[dattebenforcer]

fascinating stuff.

[chocolatemilk41]

Did she just laugh at her own bad blind joke?

[tristansalvanera]

this is why Wal-Mart hurts my brain

[fleks613]

Open your eyes. Look up to the skies and seeee. I'm just a poor boy...

[kosmosis]

Is it just me or are the Ted talks getting repetitive?

[dattebenforcer]

@kosmosis just you, you can't handle all the selection of ted talks :P

[slythoughts]

@kosmosis They don't want to overload you with choices.

[cristoretornebiblia]

I was with my ex and when she would buy makeup and lipstick in the department store they was a big selection of colors like paints for home decor. To me all the shades looked similar but to her because they had different names they must be different color. So I asked random men what is the difference with these 2 shades and they also said the same as what I confirmed they are all the same, when I asked 5 women they said no they are different shades. Thankfully this did not happen to often.

[Mrmoc7]

This sounds like a good explanation for my experience on online dating sites. The women seem to have far too many choices, receive far too many messages, so they simply stop replying to guys. If only we could go back to the old days where there was no internet, so you were most likely going to end up marrying the folks in your local. Just saying...

[ttimewithtravis]

Every choice is a decision. Every decision directs the course of your life.

[eluap]

I find it very amusing that an East Indian is giving a talk on how to be a better chooser, since every Indian person I have ever encountered cannot seem to make up their mind to save their life!

[sreevysh]

@eluap are you saying its an indian characteristic?

[MrCrammer]

How to make choosing easier: dictatorship.

[krazykidd28]

Ja ha! I was thinking the same thing. Her voice its pretty annoying too. I don't mean to sound negative though.

[pyro51090]

is she blind or just really stoned?

[popout886]

@pyro51090 she's blind but she's amazing & smart. She should sound inspiring to you.

[pyro51090]

@popout886 lol. O rly?

[truongasm]

I'm so thirsty, but I can't choose between drinking this Pepsi, or this Coke...

Thirst World Problems.

[scancool]

it does not work for me, I rather go to the supermarket than the local store.

[fzr69]

Excellent!

[rhbjorn]

So a site with billions of videos would be doomed,Oh wait...

[MrPhilosopher1950]

@rhbjorn Haha, what makes you think you are making a choice?

[rhbjorn]

@MrPhilosopher1950 It doesn't but in order for the video to make any sense at least the perception of a choice must be assumed otherwise it would be a short video "I'm here to talk about how you make choices, you don't thank you and goodbye"

[iJuStEriC]

OPEN your eyes!

[MortalFloss]

@iJuStEriC she said she's blind.

[0MoTheG]

@iJuStEriC She could paint eyes on her lits.

[yahmana]

in real life this wouldn't work because if one store decides to reduce choices, consumers will shop at another store that offers more and that will force the store with limited choices to change their plans and offer more. it's human nature that we enjoy variety, the world is colorful and is not black and white

[yahmana]

this is not a good research because it's mainly aimed to increase the capital of the big corporations and sucking every penny from the poor people. more choices is better for the consumer because it increases the competition and you'll get the best price, and it's also better for consumers to buy less when there are more choices, so this way you don't buy unnecessary things.

[Thcif]

Being poor solves this issue. You go for the cheapest damn mayonnaise.

No need to thank me.

[gulllars]

@Thcif it's not that easy though, do you go for the lowest per item price, or the lowest pr amount price? Buying something slightly more expensive that will last longer can save you money. Buying more at once and less often can save you money and time from travel (and bulk purchases).

And then you have "will this cost me more in total because of health effects"?

TCO (total cost of ownership) is also often overlooked, where the cheapest option to buy may be more expensive in overall.

[SiliconBong]

Thank You Thcif :p

[Tethloach1]

@Thcif Your right being poor limits your choices no choice or affordable, satisfaction will be limited as well.

[TheFlam3head]

yea choosing sucks.

[assmonkey1233]

Guys she is blind. stop with the rude comments.

[DoRayMeFa]

Fascinating!

[RoGeorgeRoGeorge]

This is not new. I read that having more then 4 options block the decision.

[Dolo083]

Is she high?

[BleachRush]

@Dolo083 she's blind. did you watch the video or just jumped to comment? seriously...

[imRyRy]

@BleachRush Blind people get high too.

[randyseck]

We also get better service and feel more local at Aldi than Walmart. Then again, the people at Aldi care more about your business.

[Hamandchees3]

her teleprompter is in her brain

[jojes03]

Search and watch another Ted Talk with Barry Schwartz in a great lecture called "The paradox of choice".

[hugglebear69]

Who was the beautiful Woman at 04:10... WOW!!!!

[Stellio8]

Actually, I think that such a talk couldn't make us more awareness of what we do.

[brod2man]

if u dont choose it, you probably dont need it so literally at that point just chill out and be happy with whatever u have already managed to choose.

PEACE

lol

[OrlandoTuvan]

Hahah, STREMNAYA on russion means "SUCKS"

[lordvadher4]

This was Steve Jobs idea to save apple. Less is More.

[LongWindedUsername]

White girl problems

[EllaABo]

Tyranny of Choice.

[rarnoux1]

this the best ever

[mazdaplz]

why the fuck is she squinting like that?

[cavsnake13]

@mazdaplz hahahahahaha

[cowpacino]

@mazdaplz

she's blind

[Harrisam66]

How the fuck does this blind lady learn all this shit? I have trouble learning facts and figures and I can read! She must have Wikipedia in Braille

[xybersurfer]

she makes good points. choosing is hard

[DepressedAnimeAddict]

Is it just me who takes about 30 seconds even for the most complex of choices? I don't like boding over stuff.

[stefanocts]

never mind

[stefanocts]

is she blind????

[ClAcKeRzW]

@stefanocts She actually says she is blind in the video... lol.

[stefanocts]

@ClAcKeRzW that's why i wrote never mind later on

[jpqfd]

@stefanocts wtf, yes she SAID she is

[rackslap]

@stefanocts She says she is. So yes. 

[andrewc2768]

Indian chicks are the new asian chicks

[MrJaS42]

@andrewc2768 that´s disgusting

[andrewc2768]

@MrJaS42 maybe there are just too many choices in women.

[sreevysh]

@MrJaS42 why? just asking :)

[sreevysh]

@andrewc2768 what's that supposed to mean?

[Ammondn]

This was an amazing video! Thank You.

[Xbox360Rulesz]

I have a strong feeling of deja vu with another ted talk. A guy with a remarkable haircut did a similar talk that had something to do with spagetti sauce or something...

[ehrmannson]

@Xbox360Rulesz

you mean malcolm gladwell :)

[chessdude67]

Excellent! Thumbs way up! Thank you for this info...now I know I'm not the only one having trouble with choosing!!! Too many different beers at the store, lol!

[sladkajes]

very good talk... choosing can be such a b^tch sometimes :))

[RagingBubuli]

is she blind?

[Nassosdim]

@RagingBubuli She says so.

[kjelle90]

@RagingBubuli Yepp, she says that at around 2 minutes into the video.

[strandwolf]

Is her voice sped up?

[ereignisfelder]

ALDI !!! 

[panniize]

Smart Indian lady.

[defaultuser88]

good talk imo, all her points make absolute sense

[strandwolf]

Queen of the jungle.

[twistedbass15]

I'm sure she's been on TED before. 27 different types of soda 1 choice. Genius !

[TonyGT37]

sooo should I get a PS3 or 360? :P

[twistedbass15]

@TonyGT37 Get both so you don't have to choose :-P

[guylfe]

@TonyGT37 You've only got 2 choices, so you're engaged. This talk isn't about MAKING choices, it's about designing choice schemes.

Oh, and PS3. Unless you are going to [at the risk of SOPA monitoring this comment for copyrighted material] burn your games - in which case go with 360.

[theNeverangel]

15:31 is a REALLY good summary of what the talk is about.

[JohnnyKidder]

ahh some serious first world problems

[MinotawrTV]

Her voice is irritating.

[Sebasstian86]

This is almost exactly the same talk as Barry Schwartz did a couple years ago about "the paradox of choice"... Or did Barry Schwartz plagarize her research???