Why is it easier to see the best solution to other people’s dilemmas than our own? Whether it’s about someone deciding to pursue a new job, or ask for a raise, or someone simply mulling over which ice cream flavor to choose, we seem to see the best solution with a clarity and decisiveness that is often absent when we face our own quandaries.
Why It’s Easier to Make Decisions for Someone Else
The bigger picture is clearer when it’s not about us.
November 13, 2018
Summary.
Whether it’s about someone deciding to pursue a new job, or ask for a raise, or someone simply mulling over which ice cream flavor to choose, we seem to see the best solution with a clarity and decisiveness that is often absent when we face our own quandaries. A new study looked at how people make decisions for themselves and for others. What it found was twofold: Not only did participants choose differently when it was for themselves rather than for someone else, but the way they chose was different. When choosing for themselves, participants focused more on a granular level, zeroing in on the minutiae. But when it came to deciding for others, study participants looked more at the array of options and focused on their overall impression.