http://www.straight.com/listings/events/878556​

Please choose one topic from the choices below and take notes during the talk. Next, write a 1-2 page informal report of about  that includes a summary of the talk, your response to it and a comparison and contrast discussion that describes similarities and differences between the talk and a reading that you find on the internet about the same topic. The reading should be about 1-4 pages long.

Please hand in your notes and the reading article with your report

The report should follow the format below:

 

What are two negative effects of having so much choice?

What are  “ Opportunity costs “  ?

What example does he use to talk about escalating expectations?

 

What is his “Secret to Happiness”

 

Why does he say everyone needs a fishbowl?

Barry Schwartz gives 

What are two negative effects of having so much choice?

one effect, paradoxically, is that it produces paralysis, rather than liberation. With so many options to choose from, people find it very difficult to choose at all.

The second effect is that even if we manage to overcome the paralysis and make a choice, we end up less satisfied with the result of the choice than we would be if we had fewer options to choose from.

 

What are  “ Opportunity costs “  ?

Opportunity costs subtract from the satisfaction we get out of what we choose, even when what we choose is terrific. And the more options there are to consider, the more attractive features of these options are going to be reflected by us as opportunity costs.

What example does he use to talk about escalating expectations?

 

 I went to replace my jeans after years of wearing these old ones, and I said, "I want a pair of jeans. Here's my size." And the shopkeeper said, "Do you want slim fit, easy fit, relaxed fit? You want button fly or zipper fly? You want stonewashed or acid-washed? Do you want them distressed? You want boot cut, tapered, blah blah." On and on he went. My jaw dropped. And after I recovered, I said, "I want the kind that used to be the only kind."

What is his “Secret to Happiness”

 The secret to happiness — this is what you all came for — the secret to happiness is low expectations.

Why does he say everyone needs a fishbowl?

Because the truth of the matter is that if you shatter the fishbowl so that everything is possible, you don't have freedom. You have paralysis. If you shatter this fishbowl so that everything is possible, you decrease satisfaction. You increase paralysis, and you decrease satisfaction.