Who is the leftist Latin American icon who served as the 40th president of Uruguay?
Ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of people that pop up while you're using a dating app? Or like the pool of potential options is just so vast that you don't know where to start? If so, you may have experienced option paralysis. This phenomenon, which involves feeling so overwhelmed by the number of available options that you fail to choose one at all, is common in various walks of life, including online dating.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.
The concept of option paralysis was first discussed by psychologist Barry Schwartz in his 2004 book ‘The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less.’
In the context of career decisions, too, it is not uncommon for people to feel intimidated by the number of options and end up stagnating instead of deciding.
Option paralysis is a very real problem in the context of dating, particularly when it comes to the world of online dating via apps and sites.
In theory, the large number of available options when online dating should be a good thing, since it gives people more opportunities to find the perfect partner.
Indeed, given there are so many things to consider when choosing a partner, you might be forgiven for thinking that when it comes to dating, the more options, the better.
In reality, however, studies show that having too many options to choose from is a bad thing when it comes to finding a partner online.
In 2011, for example, there was a study published in Biology Letters that showed that people who were presented with multiple potential partners were less likely to make any decision at all.
In fact, the study showed that participants became so overwhelmed by the number of options that they failed to even narrow down their choices.
While option paralysis can happen in various real-life situations, it manifests itself in some quite specific ways in the online dating world.
For example, people affected by option paralysis when online dating may spend hours scrolling through the apps, without ever actually connecting with anyone.
It is also common for people with this problem to match with someone on a dating app and then never personally reach out or make contact with them.
Most of the time, this reluctance to strike up a conversation is because the person is not quite sure whether the match is the perfect person for them.
Option paralysis may also cause someone to go on first dates with multiple people, but never follow up with any of them, because they just can’t decide whom to pursue.
And, finally, people with option paralysis tend to obsess about keeping their options open, because they are afraid that if they commit to one person, they’ll miss out on another.
Option paralysis can be quite damaging if it goes undetected. In addition to preventing you from finding a partner, it can cause considerable anxiety and stress.
Thankfully, if you think you may be suffering from option paralysis in your dating life, there are some tactics you can use to help overcome the problem.
The first, and perhaps most obvious, solution to this problem is to reduce the number of options available to you by narrowing your search.
Next time you open your go-to dating app, try narrowing the search by defining criteria such as location, interests, or values.
It can also help to take breaks from scrolling through the apps. As with anything in life, it is a good idea to step away every now and again, in order to clear your mind and gain perspective.
Practicing mindfulness is also a good way to focus the mind on the task of building real connections with real people, rather than analyzing profiles.
You may also decide that it is more efficient to have an account on fewer apps.
If you are really struggling to navigate the world of online dating, you may decide to seek guidance from friends or family members who have had a successful experience.
Ultimately, you may also decide that online dating is not for you, and if that’s the case, it’s important to remember that there are other ways to meet people.
Try not to put all your energy into dating apps and remember that it is perfectly possible to meet someone in real life.
Sources: (Verywell Mind)
See also: Is it possible to find love online? Researchers say it is
Another top tip, and this goes for offline dating as well online, is to focus on setting priorities. Identify what are your nonnegotiables in a partner, and focus on finding someone who fits those criteria.
There are many contexts in which option paralysis can be a problem. When online shopping, for example, you might feel overwhelmed by all the variations of the same product on offer and end up not buying something you really need.
Most of the time it is best to choose one or two apps that align closely with your values and goals, rather than spreading yourself too thin.
Online dating and the problem of option paralysis
The psychology of dating apps and sites
LIFESTYLE Dating apps
Ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of people that pop up while you're using a dating app? Or like the pool of potential options is just so vast that you don't know where to start? If so, you may have experienced option paralysis. This phenomenon, which involves feeling so overwhelmed by the number of available options that you fail to choose one at all, is common in various walks of life, including online dating.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.