overchoice
A condition where consumers are overwhelmed by an excessive number of options, complicating decision-making and potentially reducing freedom of choice.
2 chapters across 1 book
Future Shock (1970)Alvin Toffler
Chapter 12 of Future Shock challenges the common belief that technological advancement leads to a loss of individual choice due to standardization. Instead, Alvin Toffler argues that the Super-industrial Revolution is producing an unprecedented variety of goods and services, creating a paradox of 'overchoice' where consumers face overwhelming options. This shift from uniformity to diversity is enabled by advanced automation and technology, which reduce the cost of product variation and fragment markets into numerous specialized niches.
Chapter 19 of Future Shock discusses the necessity of consciously regulating technological advancement to prevent the societal and psychological damage caused by rapid change, termed future shock. Toffler argues against halting technological progress, emphasizing the need for responsible and selective technological policies that align with broader social goals. The chapter also highlights the emerging political backlash against irresponsible technology use and the importance of societies consciously choosing cultural and technological paths amid increasing complexity and overchoice.