I have had a problem with the concept of free will, and come to some understanding of the illusion of choice, ever since I realised it was possible to manipulate people into thinking they made a choice/decision.
Make a few statements, limit the available choices, and provide just enough information in the right light and you’re well on your way to being masterful in the art of convincing others to make choices you are vested in.
Marketers know this; they continually tap into the psyche of the public, adjusting font sizes and spin narratives that resonate with audiences, especially since psychologists found that we’re not as open to options as we seem.
Our brains are lazy and always looking for shortcuts and most times, we outsource the decisions we make by basing our choices on the group – a group of friends, family or society, after all, two heads are better than one.
The best choice is the one that most people know the most about. What drove this home even further was when I saw people fighting for the right of women to choose a grinding stone over a blender by ascribing some inherent value to the former.
Every individual seeks their betterment, and in the case where a system is in place to consistently make sure you choose worse, it’s up to everyone to question why they need others to make a worse-off choice.
And it’s up to us to question the worse-off choices we make and proactively set in place systems that enable everyone to make better choices for the benefit of all.
