RSA ANIMATE: The Paradox of Choice
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- Опубликовано: 15 июн 2011
- In this new RSA Animate, Professor Renata Salecl explores the paralysing anxiety and dissatisfaction surrounding limitless choice. Does the freedom to be the architects of our own lives actually hinder rather than help us? Does our preoccupation with choosing and consuming actually obstruct social change?
Taken from the RSA's free public events programme www.thersa.org/events. The RSA was established in the heart of the Enlightenment, and is dedicated to driving social progress and spreading world-changing ideas.
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This audio has been edited from the original event by Becca Pyne. Series produced by Abi Stephenson, RSA.
Animation by Cognitive Media. Andrew Park, the mastermind behind the Animate series and everyone's favourite hairy hand, discusses their appeal and success in his blog post, 'Talk to the hand': www.thersa.org/talk-to-the-hand/
Thank you so much to the talented cartoonist who took the time to create this fantastic video! ^_^ I'm usually so intimidated by just how *much* of these videos are on RUclips, and how long and complex they tend to be... but the RSA animates series is awesome! It's like these little chunks of wisdom that you can take away with you, chew over and use to inform the rest of your day - or even life. We really are on the cusp of a much happier world, so thanks RSA for letting me be a part of it! ^_^
the friend in the restaurant 2:00 looks like Slavoj Žižek!
"Freedom of choice
is what you got,
freedom from choice
is what you want" Devo
She seems like a Female version of Slavoj Zizek!
:v
+dimiaraujo90 She is his exwife
dimiaraujo90 Why must women be the female version of a man? I found her much more empathic than he. Slavoj is too much of a left celebrity for me to take him seriously
No one said that women must be female versions of men. It's just that he's super famous and she's not.
Beautifully presented
I'd write a comment here but by choosing what to write, I lose the possibility of writing something else.
+Sad Penguin Your the best sad penguin!!!
I know I'm kinda off topic but do anybody know a good place to watch newly released series online?
@Melvin Jackson Meh I'd suggest Flixportal. Just google for it :D -khalil
@Khalil Jedidiah thanks, I went there and it seems to work :D I appreciate it!
@Melvin Jackson glad I could help :D
@Zenettii We do have an RSA Vision android app too I'm afraid we've just not updated the ad, sorry about that.
That's fantastic! So happy you've enjoyed the series - keep up the good work!
This seems to be more about peer group pressure rather than the 'anguish of choice'.
How interesting. She presents all the negatives of the overwhelming choices we have(which I do) and yet, even in the examples she gives, I personally experience NONE of these problems or anxieties. To me that doesn't present a dichotomy of choice, but other spiritual concerns.
I agree. When one is growing up in any complex society, capitalist or communist, or whatever, one internalizes 'the rules'. One learns how to function in The Tribe. It is after childhood and adolescence that we realize we have the power and control to shape our adult lives, and indeed these are spiritual choices.
1.) Not everyone is overwhelmed by choices, some of us enjoys the expression of self and even the process of contemplating
2.) When you feel like you "have to" choose something because of social pressure, it is already a choice on its own, whether you are looking too closely to be aware of that or not
3.) I found that the narrator's assertion of us all are overwhelmed and anxious about having choices very troubling, the mere fact of asserting to us "this is how you feel" is an oppression on it's own
Also, just because someone feels guilty over a failure doesn't mean that they're going to simply give up or are even any less motivated to try again than if they didn't feel guilty over it.
Oh gosh, I just love these RSAnimate videos! Thank you so much for sharing these :)
I think the real paradox of choice, or free will, is that less than 1% of our thoughts actually reach our conscious mind.
My experience has been that the average person's definition of capitalism looks a lot like my definition of oligarchy.
What she's describing in the first minute is exactly how I felt trying to narrow down my list of graduate schools...
I hope you made the right choice Andy! ;)
it's so awesome that these lectures are depicted with these pictures, thank you :) for both
A very very sad paradox
You are a prisoner of choice if you subscribe to capitalism. Counter to what was said at the beginning about people abandoning socialism or commumism, there is still healthy debate and activism in these realms even if there aren't many socialist governments left in power :)
Better to be a prisoner of choice than a prisoner of NO choice at all... And that's what you are in a commie state. You think the North Koreans defect from their commie motherland because they love to have no choice? Think harder, tovarisch :) Where socialism works, it's powered by capitalism like in Sweden.
@@marcinb4647 depicting socialist states as ones in which you have no choice is simplistic and I think this video does a good job of showing what a burden too many choices can present, with the result that people are often left with no energy to critique the very system that created this mess.
This really is a scientific perspective on the concept of existential freedom, and the hidden burden of responsibility of the choices we make as well as being responsible for the choices we didn't make. Tie this in with social media, facebook image crafting and constant, often unwelcomed transparency and you get quite the mess.
Hats off to you, RSA folks, for this animated series and the hard work you put on making all this. I have found these clips to be very interesting and useful. Thank you very much. You've got an amazing channel.
In 1:45 is Zizek, haha
TSIBUKOWSKI i thought it was just me! haha :D
also notic death from Bergman's Seven Seal 3:40
is there a version of this video with a different voice, I cant, its scaring me.. im really interested in the content though
Wonderful job! My opinion is that social change actually stems from the change of the self. This change cannot come about if we don't know what to believe in and in fact go on with our lives without taking a stand on any issue with the pretext that we don't have enough time! I think that there is no limitless choice. The products we buy nowadays are actually so like one another! The feeling of dissatisfaction is the reason we have so many apparent choices and not the result!
Well said! The products have so many different packages, but most of them are essentially the same or very similar.
BRILLIANT!! Wish I could like this more than once.
Professor Renata is not the first to identify this phenomena and it has been proven, time and time again. The simple statement of choice resulting in loss is genius.
Interesting idea, but I choose to have CHOICE.
This is an interesting presentation but it is really a primer on the stultifying effects of Communism on the human mind. The hive mentality runs all through this presentation; what will others think of my choices, or me or my sex life. That is called raging co-dependency, a symptom of very low self esteem. Very natural when one has been raised in a collective society and a group consciousness.
In America, we emphasize the individual, not the collective. We are trained from the earliest years to make choices and hopefully wise ones. We are also taught that we are responsible for our choices so we had better make them wisely. I have never seen an American awe-struck by choices in a store, quite the opposite, we demand choice and variety.
There is no paradox of choice, anymore than a fork in the road is a paradox. There is an old American saying: "You pay your money and you make your choice". In other words, it is your life, your choice now make it.
Choice is liberating and absolutely necessary in a free society. It may be Yugoslavia is still held in the mental chains of the Tito era, even though rampant Capitalism exists. The prison is in the mind, not in the choice. Sameness is hell to an American, according to this post the writer is nostalgic for the Nanny State and the smothering hand of socialism. It is much easier to live in a society where your choices are made for you. But then you never really grow up in such a society.
I think what she's getting at is that choice causes a paralyzation of action, leading to a malaise and social paralysis. I guess an acute example would be people staying indoors and playing x-boxes which is an experience full of hyper choices. Generally we're talking more about choice as an ideology rather than the free market system which left on it's own, would lead to muliple monopolies and therefore less choice
*has lead to multiple monopolies and less choice.
Donza Thompson What you said about monopolies is a common economic fallacy. The only monopolies that have ever been created in America have been a direct result of government privilege given to a particular firm. These privileges have come in the form of laws and regulations that keep out competition and subsidies. The only monopolies that have existed otherwise have been disintegrated as soon as they started raising prices (because of you know, competition) which by very definition they were not true monopolies. If your logic were true, we'd still all be driving around in black Ford Model-T's.
Mr. Patlian,
We care about your opinion as well, that is why we are all in this virtual platform. But you should also be aware that there should always be a certain level of respect when giving an opinion, since respect promotes peace at all levels within societies. I recommend you recapitulate on this further and consequently keep in mind we all have different ideas to share and comment on. Best regards.
"Sameness is hell to an American." I guess hell must be the American dream then, because a lot of us consider moving to the suburbs a dream. And the houses in the suburbs are not similar at all...
I tried deciding which cereal I wanted to buy. But then I panicked: What would everyone else think of me? She is spot on. I was standing there, anxious, in the grocery store for fking hours.
Choice doesn’t not prevent social change, we just choose not to change things out of fear, or any other issue! She says “Choice is related with loss, that is why people don’t provoke social change” Choice can be related to loss (not entirely true there is some gain too), but that’s life we can’t always have it both ways. With choices we have responsibilities, and it can mean taking a chance, it may work out it may not.
The idea that choice was ever a problem is absurd. There is very little in the way of choice in people's everyday lives. Medical field is centrally regulated, food is controlled, the type of incorporation a business can engage in is limited. If anything, a better video would be on the illusion of choice, not the "paradox".
I don't know. What about career or 'life path' anxiety? There is something to that. I'm not saying it's necessarily good to be stuck with a specific path (such as 'what your Father does', for instance), but certainly the idea that you can be "the best possible you" causes people to feel dissatisfied, and always wonder if they are doing the "right" thing. Not everyone of course, but the ability to change makes this worse.
I feel bad for this woman and other people that have been freed from communism and have a hard time coping with choice. But part of her problem is she has anxiety about what other people will think of her. That is a personal problem that she needs to overcome and stop worrying about what other people think.
Spoken like a truly alienated being.
What a Masterpiece!! Thanks Renata.
The paradox of choice is that we say we want choice but then we feel so overwhelmed with choice, it provokes anxiety (partially true-but we shouldn’t freak out over choice). “People are frozen in a state of un-decisiveness, people are anxious about choice because they worry about what others will think”, I agree with her on that -but what does that tell you? Those people are maladjusted, immature, paranoid, narcissistic, lack self-esteem, materialistic, scared, shallow, they have issues!!
That's a very good point. Having multiple choices isn't the problem, the people's inability to make one is.
I find her misconception to be the same as every other left-wing that addresses capitalism. The idea of capitalism and choice is not that EVERYONE can make it, but ANYONE can.
+Jason Burkett I don't think that is very much contrary to left-wing critique?
Max Weber f.ex. saw in calvinism a forerunner to capitalism. Calvinism is the idea that our destiny is pre-determined. So if you go to heaven or hell has already been decided. The beautiful thing is of course, that a calvinist would look for signs that they were destined for heaven, something they found in how hard they worked, believed and contributed overall. Which again turns salvation, happiness and whatever happens to you in your life, inwards. If you already accept you are the master of your own life, then you will also blame yourself for whatever happens.
I think it would be better to formulate it like this: It is actual that anyone can, therefore it is possible that everyone can.
(Of course I disagree with that anyone and everyone can, but I do think its the discourse).
+Jason Burkett Concisely put
By claiming ANYONE can 'make it' you are saying there are no barriers in the way of ANYONE from achieving success. However you've admitted that not EVERYONE can 'make it', which suggests an acknowledgement on your part that the system has a limit to the number of people who can.
It is that systemic limitation which makes your statement about ANYONE being able to make it untrue. Not ANYONE can make it if most people won't.
Capitalism is clever in that it doesn't reveal to you whether you will be one of the lucky ones or whether you will fail until it is too late to 'make it'.
It's a bit like gambling in that sense, you haven't lost the bet until you've lost the bet. But nobody will tell you if you're going to lose the bet until you've lost, the not knowing creates a sense of hope and more often than not the hope leads to disappointment.
Will Bianchi Nice staw man. that is not what I'm claiming. There are challenges in every position in life... that's called life.
That's called life within capitalism, I agree
This is complete babble for followers who feel a need to be part of a group. People that have no individuality, and cannot critically think for themselves.
To take an example from early in the video about the man ordering wine; who cares if the person you are with thinks you are high-brow for ordering the expensive wine? If you like the taste of cheap wine, why would you care if your friend thinks you're a cheapskate? How about be a man and don't let others influence what you choose for yourself (as long as it doesn't directly hurt others).
You're a libertarian, you're not capable of understanding real people.
Seán O'Nilbud
I'm actually not a libertarian, I'm not really a fan of group-think. By the way who is a real person? Since you're a socialist or a progressive you understand real people and because I don't buy into some stupid idea of being controlled by other people I can't understand 'real' people? I bet for all of the garbage you've spewed on this page you've never actually helped any person in your whole life, just ordered other people to give up more of their money to help them for you or perhaps help you directly. What's it like to have never had an original thought before in your life and always just followed what other people have told you?
Quiet down filth, your childish tantrums bore me, your assumptions are why you're a joke. Boring libertarian sheep like you are a result of ignorance being granted the title of opinion.
"Quiet down filth", oh boy we have a winner here and guess what friends? He's better than you!!! Sean O'Nilbud is the greatest person ever. He's always right and if you don't agree with him you are a sheep and ignorant!! Guess what else? He doesn't think people should have choices! And why would any of you actually want a choice when you can be just like Sean O'Nilbud! Do as he says, think how he thinks and don't ask him questions that he can't answer or he'll call you a child. And guess what else? You are a child if you ask him a question! All bow to Jesus Christ reincarnated, Sean O'Nilbud!!!
That's a good point! Compared to you I'm very immature. Look at your posts. You called me filth, a child, uneducated, and a dunce. Not to mention that I can't understand 'real' people and I should go suck my thumb. Those aren't childish comments at all. Go ahead and keep posting but I'm done with your stupid little comments. You call me uneducated but you are just plain stupid (and I don't care what your education level is)!
I totally agree with this. I just wish that when I went to a restaurant, the waiter would just order for me. My anxiety would be calmed and I'm sure that the waiter would always order something completely delicious!
Is there a way to purchase/download these illustrations for print?
Amazing essay, just what I was thinking, people blame often themselves for failing not even considering the social aspects which could be against our desires and goals. For example in Russia literature was censored, so few writers succeeded in publishing but that did not meant the writers were bad at writing
Really good explanation of the paradox of choice. Thank you! I also believe that this subject of apparent choice and self hating is more of a phenomena of central capitalist states. In developing economies is probable to find that collective action towards social change is more common, i guess one reason may be because individual success is objectively more difficult to achieve.
Your art is great; I really love the way you follow the speech and present it by visual means. Wonderful.
Well said.
Allow me to ask this: what program they use to do the moving effects?
:/
I lked the flying bees and everything, such pro work
Brilliant. Psychological analysis of the problems of society rather than just statement of the problems of society. This is what I've been looking for. Lots of good points to work on here, and for me that starts with reducing my anxiety.
Also, a personal favourite moment was when the Lennon book bumps the guy reading Marx on the head. Subtle, but extremely profound statement.
Can you provide me the software or tools which helped you to make like this Video.
Thanks in advance
Are there any high-res versions of these final pictures? That would be wonderful.
Yes, they'd make for some great posters too!
Right now, I can't tell you where, but I once found them on their website I guess. They were high-res pdf files which you could buy. At least I think they weren't for free. Then you would have had to print them yourself.
About 70% of this went over my head but the point of a choice always causing you to lose the possibility of another is very profound
This video is incredibly interesting! Got pointed here from a student on an online course about Ideology and propaganda!
Thank you!
i like your animations a lot, both the artistic and the phylosophical part
this makes so much sense, I think this wide selection is actually decresing the number of young couples today...I see so many seemingly compatible people holding out for something better.
amazing video, somehow I was looking for this
I don't feel overwhelmed by choices at all. I enjoy having them and I enjoy weighing the costs and benefits of the different choices available.
@donn333 The final images are available to buy, you can download them from cognitivemedia.co.uk
Oh thank you, Big Brother. Take away all my choices so that I don't have to feel embarrassed and experience any feelings of loss.
'The Big Udder'... what a great name for a cheese store! XD
RSA, your work is awesome! Thanks!
What software do you use to make this sort of animations?
tHERE WERE SO MANY PANELS TO READ, i ENDED UP READING NONE AND JUST LISTENING. tOO SHAY!
Awesome! And I also liked the drawing, is it available as a poster somewhere?
Very well explained and understandable, thank you
When I was younger I lived next door to an all-american family. Their son went off to college and came back a year later. I was told he was sick so he had to move back to his home. I talked to him several times and he didnt seem at all sick. What I really think is that he had a mental break down because of the impositions of college life and working to pay for it. Sure, it could be many things, but that was the impression I had. He was a bee who thought he could be everything he wanted to beeee.
Zizek is caricatured at the beginning above the sign with "Organic Apples." Amazing!
Is there a transcript of this video somewhere??
I love your animation techniques.
@ourben How long did it take Pol Pot?
9:13 "The ideology of Choice is actually not so optimistic, & it prevents Social Change"
very interesting analysis & observation .. !
Wow, excellent presentation, quite overwhelming though ...
I'm observing these things for many years becoming more and more destructive - especially the growing power of companies which give the individuals the feeling that you are just a very tiny part of it and you should be so thankful that you can be here. So don't dare to criticise and it's your fault when we throw you out ! Experienced all that myself during the last 20 years !
Brilliant analysis.
These videos are really good!
@theRSAorg I'm from far far away - Malaysia. Do you guys ship here?
This is perfect animation.
The Wine part is so true and it's not only wine, but also many things !
Wow. I have not had this degree of clarity in philosophical vision since I discovered Stefan Molyneux
Could someone please explain the conclusion, if there was such?
Well, this paralysis from choosing is just self doubt. If you own your choices and stop having regrets of past choices, you can eliminate this paralysis and anxiety. Though I am not saying that you shouldn't learn from your mistakes and reflect on your choices.
this video is saying that choice is very important, but it's how we deal with it that can change our course in life for the better.
I'm upset I saw this video a second time without realizing I had seen it before- it appeared completely new to me! Bloody hell my memory is horrible.
I love this animation.
OMG that's EXACTLY EXACTLY EXACTLY what I thought: both, "doesn't apply to me" AND "Am I the only one while watching this, who thought".
OMG, you made my day :D
We have never been more free throughout the history of civilization than we are today, and the level of social change for the good is orders of magnitude greater in the capitalism than it was prior.
Really cool presentation!!!
"People fail when they have every opportunity…and…succeed when…odds are against them"
Not usually, in the vast majority of cases people fail when odds are against them. This is what the phrase means - more people will fail than succeed given the low probability of success.
dan ashcroft popping up out of nowhere just made my evening, "well plastic!" ta :)
brilliant animation.
@fwanksajerk I completely understand why people are mad at this speech. She is not saying people should be anti choice. She is pointing out that the liberty of choice makes we as humans think and act based off those limitless choices. We heighten our expectations and we have more of a chance to be disappointed with choices and opportunities we missed. What should be taken away from this is that people need to lower their expectations.
This is a speech of psychology, not politics.
Tnx for sharing professor, you make me thinking of things.
And a beautiful accent do you have.
@donn333 I believe they are available for purchase at their website or their partner website
This ties into the other RSA animation "Smile Or Die" quite nicely.
The idea of Choice provoking Anxiety is an issue with an individual not with a system. When I walk into a supermarket and see 10 different kinds of apples I am happy at the selection. 9 times out of 10 i'm going with Granny Smith because they are my favorite but on that 10th time guess what I feel like Macintosh today! Both of these choices make me happy because I am getting what I want. Anyone paralyzed with anxiety over this decision has a psychological issue and needs help not social change!
Hi Mysteriouszed,
Prints and PDFs of our RSA Animates can be purchased on the Cognitive Media website.
Thanks!
- The CM Team
great counter argument. I applaud your logic and reasoning, and your willingness to put your beliefs to counter arguments and see if they still hold true.
I'm supposed to be doing my homework but I'm learning more from this instead.
"The problem is Choice..." >> one of the classic Matrix Reloaded lines springs to mind >> bringing about the consumption of the consumer
this videos are so prefect!
I love the image @1:12 of Pulp leader from the "Common People" video clip :-)
With regard to choosing between products to buy, I'm fond of choice because I'm good at avoiding anxiety by taking a probabilistic approach to making a choice. More options simply means that the odds of me making a choice that I am unhappy with is low, since I am merely concerned with a making choice that is good enough and rough estimation of value will suffice. Refinement can come later.
This is so true.
ummm sooo yeah that was 🔥🔥🔥🔥. Thank you.
The conclusion she draws is a rewording of, "There are none so enslaved as those who falsely believe that they are free."
The illusion of meaningful choice and self direction in society as described in the video turns social anxiety and criticism inward, upon the individual. The illusion of freedom turns social anxiety and criticism outward, onto perceived threats to the establishment, foreign bogeymen and partisan foes, instead of questioning the system itself.
We must question the system.
Barry Schwartz wrote the book on this topic in 2004. He even delivered two TED Talks. I've never heard of Renata Salecl.
there are interesting points but it is still concentrating on ourselves who have intelectual ability to understand it, this is why there is critique everywhere but not changes visible
the video has brought me to another world of understanding in capitalism.
Economics revolves around choice and decision making. It's a necessity to ourselves that we make those right choices.