The Maximizing Penalty

Maximizers are Perceived as Less Warm and Receive Less Social Support

Bibliographic Data

ID21209189
AuthorsYuqi Chen (0000-0001-9769-1167, East China Normal University), Yuhan Yang (0000-0002-7080-8457, East China Normal University), Jingyi Lu (0000-0001-7640-9759, East China Normal University, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume14
Issue7
Pages825-834
Publication date2023-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Psychological and Personality Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1948-5506 • E-ISSN: 1948-5514
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/19485506221132377
OpenAlexW4307886059
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited42

Economically, maximizing, the tendency to seek the best, is good because it entails possibilities to optimize decision outcomes. However, research has shown that maximizing is costly in that maximizers are more regretful and less satisfied with their decisions. Beyond these intrapersonal downsides, this research investigates another important but largely ignored downside—the interpersonal costs of being a maximizer—and documents a maximizing penalty in social cognition wherein maximizers (vs. satisficers) are viewed as less warm and consequently receive less social support. Four studies provide evidence for the maximizing penalty. This research contributes to the literature on maximizing by revealing the social cost of being a maximizer and the literature on choice perception by showing that decision makers are perceived by their aspiration

Cognition · Interpersonal communication · Intrapersonal communication · Perception · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics · Experimental Behavioral Economics Studies · Psychology · Social Psychology

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