ARE YOU A ROMANTIC MAXIMISER?

January 2, 2018

In a world where we are spoilt for choice, does the way in which we conduct decision making also transfer to choice of love partners, too? The notion of romantic maximisers and romantic satisficers is a little difficult to outline, but it is best demonstrated in the way in which you make purchase decisions, so we will outline the below.

The maximiser vs the satisficer

When making a purchase decision, how do you go about it? Let’s say, for instance, that you want to purchase a car. Do you trawl the internet for hours, days, weeks, trying to determine the best make, model, and year of a car? Trying to find the absolute best price that you can? If this sounds like you – that you are determined to get the very best – then you are a maximiser.

However, if you are the one that comes across a pretty good deal on a pretty good car and you go and purchase it after a couple of days, then you are a satisficier – you are happy enough with good enough.

In romance

These two descriptive words may also be used in terms of how you approach a relationship. For the romantic maximiser, they are always determined to make the very best choice when choosing a partner. What this can amount to is either a) being forever single in the search for the best partner or b) being not entirely satisfied in the romantic relationship they are in, for fear that there is someone out there better for them. For the romantic satisficer, they are more likely to pick a partner who fits the bill enough, and then be far more happy in the choice that they made – more content with their partner.

It is important to note, that while the maximiser may lead to making the best decisions when it comes to a car, they also waste a lot of time deliberating on their decision. In love, they waste a lot of time comparing their partner to others, or not finding the “perfect partner”.

All doom and gloom?

If you think that you are a romantic maximiser and you’d like to do something to address this potential stumbling block when it comes to love, then you don’t have to despair. While it is a personality trait, it is also possible to work on it too – you can train yourself to be more of a satisficer with the correct assistance.