When the purpose lies within: Maximizers and satisfaction with autotelic choices

Kokkoris, Michail D.

doi:10.1007/s11002-017-9443-4

Cited by 13 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Given that feeling responsible for the decision increases regret (Steffel & Williams, 2018), we argue that an outcome focus increases the regret and rumination felt by maximizers, ultimately damaging their wellbeing. This is consistent with the notion that "instrumental" choices, which enable decision makers to fulfil extrinsic goals, deplete individuals' resources, decreasing pleasure and satisfaction (Choi & Fishbach, 2011;Kokkoris, 2018).…”

Section: Focus On the Choice Process Vs Focus On The Choice Outcomesupporting

confidence: 86%

The wellbeing implications of maximizing: A conceptual framework and meta‐analysis

et al. 2022

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Decision‐making literature establishes that maximizers, who always strive for the best option, paradoxically experience lower wellbeing. The current study aims to discover the conditions that attenuate or exacerbate the detrimental effect of maximization on wellbeing by using a large‐scale meta‐analysis based on 683 effect sizes from 108 papers, spanning 47,245 unique respondents. We develop a conceptual framework for the literature and classify potential moderators of the maximization‐wellbeing relationship along two dimensions: (i) whether they enable the decision‐maker to focus on the choice process or the choice outcome, and (ii) the extent to which they contribute to choice complexity, expecting that process (vs. outcome) focus and less complex choices can assuage maximizers’ wellbeing deficit. Our meta‐analysis supports our expectations for all the choice focus moderators, but not for all the choice complexity moderators. Alongside theoretical and practical implications, we offer a framework to guide future research that should uncover when choice complexity moderators most accurately explain the wellbeing of maximizers.

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Section: Focus On the Choice Process Vs Focus On The Choice Outcomesupporting

confidence: 86%

The wellbeing implications of maximizing: A conceptual framework and meta‐analysis

et al. 2022

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“…Maximization studies continually focus on decisions pertaining to consumer goods (e.g., Diab et al, 2008 ; Weaver et al, 2015 ; Kokkoris, 2018 ), yet from an applied perspective, there are many benefits of integrating maximization into the study of high-uncertainty least-worst decisions. First and foremost, least-worst decision-making is often shown to become de-railed, resulting in decision inertia.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Police Perfection: Examining the Effect of Trait Maximization on Police Decision-Making

2020

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Police officers around the world must often select between equally unappealing, uncertain courses of action in an attempt to achieve the best outcome. Despite the immense importance of such decisions, there remains a lack of understanding in the study of individual differences in police decision-making. Here, using a sample of senior police officers recruited from decision-making training events across the United Kingdom ( n = 96), we used the Least-worst Uncertain Choice Inventory For Emergency Responses (LUCIFER) to measure the effect of maximization on both domain-specific (police) and domain-general (military) decisions. In line with a wealth of research on traditional “consumer” decisions, we found that police officers who were “maximizers” found decisions more difficult. Gender and previous military experience also influenced the process of decision-making. Specifically, police officers with military experience took more time to assess the situation but were faster to choose a course of action and commit to it. Female police officers also were slower to assess the situation. As recent events show, the outcomes of police decisions have significant consequences for the public, the officers involved, the police force as a whole, and the wider population, yet psychological research has yet to fully explore the role of individual differences in how such decisions are made. While this study does not seek to identify factors associated with “good” or “better” decision-makers, it provides strong support for the need to factor in perspectives of the individual when creating theory, or applied tools, in support of police decision-making.

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“…The present article examined whether trait maximizing is associated with maximizing in decisions concerning consumer goods, decisions concerning experiences and services, and important life decisions. Decisions related to consumer goods have been extensively studied in the maximizing literature (e.g., Diab et al, 2008; Weaver et al, 2015; Kokkoris, 2018). Decisions related to experiences and services have been studied in the maximizing literature to a lesser degree.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maximizing Without Borders: Evidence That Maximizing Transcends Decision Domains

Kokkoris

2019

Front. Psychol.

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Do maximizers maximize across decision domains? An assumption underlying the literature on maximizing is that the tendency to strive to make the best choice spans domains. The current research provides a direct test of this assumption by examining the association between trait maximizing and domain-specific maximizing, consisting of maximizing measures in a wide range of decisions (consumer goods, services and experiences, and life decisions). Study 1 tested this association at two different time points in order to minimize common method bias. Study 2 was a high-powered pre-registered cross-sectional replication. Results of both studies showed that trait maximizing was associated with higher maximizing tendencies across all three decision domains. However, in line with prior research suggesting that people generally maximize less in experiential than in material domains, trait maximizing was associated with maximizing in services and experiences significantly less than with maximizing in consumer goods or in life decisions. These results provide empirical support for a central tenet of maximizing theory and suggest useful directions for future research.

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When the purpose lies within: Maximizers and satisfaction with autotelic choices

Cited by 13 publications

References 52 publications

The wellbeing implications of maximizing: A conceptual framework and meta‐analysis

The wellbeing implications of maximizing: A conceptual framework and meta‐analysis

Police Perfection: Examining the Effect of Trait Maximization on Police Decision-Making

Maximizing Without Borders: Evidence That Maximizing Transcends Decision Domains

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