Choice

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Choice consists of the mental process of thinking involved with the process of judging the merits of multiple options and selecting one of them for action. Some simple examples include deciding whether to get up in the morning or go back to sleep, or selecting a given route for a journey. More complex examples (often decisions that affect what a person thinks or their core beliefs) include choosing a lifestyle, religious affiliation, or political position.

Most people regard having choices as a good thing, though a severely limited or artificially restricted choice can lead to discomfort with choosing and possibly, an unsatisfactory outcome. In contrast, unlimited choice may lead to confusion, regret of the alternatives not taken, and indifference in an unstructured existence; and the illusion that choosing an object or a course leads necessarily to control of that object or course can cause psychological problems.

In economics and politics

See also: rational choice theory, public choice theory, social choice theory

Consumerist advocates of consumption and advertising join supporters of representative democracy to advocate free choice.

In the political sphere, the constraints of a two-party system often frustrate both voters and politicians.

Choice-advocates often pair the virtues of choice with the responsibilities of responsibility. Note that the consequences of a personal choice may impact on other people, and any associated responsibilities may extend into a wider society.

A political movement in the United States and United Kingdom which favors the legal availability of abortion calls itself "Pro-Choice".

Selecting an item or action from a set of possible alternatives. Individuals must make decisions about desired goods and services because these goods and services are limited.

Also a choice can be on a persanal level about certain things. e.g when to have sex

In law

The age at which children or young adults can make meaningful and considered choices poses issues for ethics and for jurisprudence.

In psychology

Main article: choice theory

In New Zealand slang

Choice is also used as a word in New Zealand slang to describe something, or a situation as being good. It may have originated from the Victorian English used in colonial times, where the word choice was used formally to describe a higher quality of traded product. As modern slang, it became popular in the 1980's and is still in use today.

Examples of usage as slang.

• "I think that song is really choice"
• Question: "What do you think of that song" Answer: "Choice"

See also

• Hobson's choice
• thinking#Topics related to Thinking
• will (philosophy)

References

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• Lev Virine & Michael Trumper (2007). Project Decisions: The Art and Science. Management Concepts. ISBN 978-1567262179.
• Daniel Kahneman (Editor), Amos Tversky (Editor) (1999). Choices, Values, and Frames. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521627498.

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Last updated on Wednesday March 12, 2008 at 12:31:52 PDT (GMT -0700)
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