Choice
Choice consists of the mental process of thinking involved with the process of judging the merits of multiple options and selecting one of them for action. Some simple examples include deciding whether to get up in the morning or go back to sleep and selecting a given route to make a journey across a country. More complex examples (often decisions that affect what a person thinks or their core beliefs) include choosing a religious affiliation, such as Christianity, or deciding on a political party of choice, such as Republican or Democrat.
Most people regard having choices as a good thing, though a severely limited or artificially restricted choice can lead to discomfort with choosing and possible an unsatisfactory outcome. On the contrary, unlimited choice may lead to confusion, regret of the alternatives not taken, and indifference in an unstructured existence; and the illusion that choosing an object or a course leads necessarily to control of that object or course can cause psychological problems.
In economics and politics
See also: rational choice theory, public choice theory, social choice theory
Consumerist advocates of consumption and advertising join supporters of representative democracy in singing the praises and adopting the virtues of free choice.
In the political sphere, the constraints of a two-party system often frustrate both voters and politicians.
Choice-advocates often pair the virtues of choice with the responsibilities of responsibility. Note that the consequences of a personal choice may impact on other people, and any associated responsibilities may extend into a wider society.
A political movement in the United States and United Kingdom which favors the legal availability of abortion calls itself "Pro-Choice".
Selecting an item or action from a set of possible alternatives. Individuals must make decisions about desired goods and services because these goods and services are limited.
In law
The age at which children or young adults can make meaningful and considered choices poses issues for ethics and for jurisprudence.
In psychology
Main article: choice theory
See also
References
- Barry Schwartz (2004), The Paradox of Choice: why more is less, HarperCollins
- Rosenthal, Edward C. (2006). The Era of Choice: The Ability to Choose and Its Transformation of Contemporary Life. The MIT Press. ISBN 0-262-68165-X.