Freedom of choice is a dream for many of us. But not every freedom gives a sense of satisfaction.
Simona Botti, assistant professor at Cornell University (USA), and Ann L. McGill, professor at the Graduate School of Business at the University of Chicago (USA), asked volunteers to rate different odors.
One group received a ready-made set – ordered from the most pleasant to the most unpleasant odors, while the others lined up this row themselves. Those who chose on their own got more pleasure from good smells.
But this tendency appeared only when the smells were very different from each other. With a small difference (for example, shades of the smell of coffee), the “good” smell was perceived equally positively by all participants. The authors of the study believe that it is not always useful to actively choose and control. Sometimes it’s better to relax and enjoy someone else’s choices.