So it seems that neither our predictions about how we will feel after an experience nor our memories of how we did feel during the experience are very accurate reflections of how we actually do feel while the experience is occurring. And yet it is memories of the past and expectations for the future that govern our choices.
In "The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less," Barry Schwartz points out the disconnect between our predictions and memories about experiences and our actual feelings during them. He emphasizes that we often misjudge how we will feel after an event or how we felt while it was happening. This disconnect can lead to dissatisfaction and poor decision-making.
Despite the inaccuracy of our emotional foresight and recall, these flawed expectations and memories heavily influence our decisions. Schwartz highlights the irony that our choices are often driven by unreliable perceptions of past experiences and future emotions, ultimately shaping our behavior in ways that may not align with our true feelings.
