Unnatural Selections By Barry Schwartz

In the article, “Unnatural Selections” by Barry Schwartz, he states the importance of the default option using multiple examples and persuasive writing techniques to explain his reasoning to the reader. In the beginning of his essay, Schwartz uses an example of Buffalo Wild Wings to explain his reasoning on defaults and why they should be changed. “Research evidence suggests that labeling the smaller portions ‘regular’ will move far more people to order them than if the portions were labeled as they are now.” (10). Schwartz uses this example to effectively show the reader that defaults do influence how we make a decision. Moreover, Barry uses persuasive techniques such as relating the problem of default choices to a serious issue like

cancer to help convince the reader that defaults should be changed. “Because of a reasonably high rate of false positives, M.R.I. scans will detect many tiny abnormalities that turn out to be benign, or not even tumors. Still, once the abnormalities are detected, there will be painful, stress-inducing, expensive follow-ups, some of which carry their own risks. So it is argued that M.R.I.’s are the right choice for women who are at relatively high risk for breast cancer, but not for the population at large.” (11). Furthermore, Schwartz uses numbers to establish the lengths at which, if the default was switched, they could benefit the population substantially. “More than 90 percent of Europeans are organ donors, while only about 25 percent of Americans are — even though most Americans approve of organ donation. In the United States, to be an organ donor you have to sign a form. The reverse is true in Europe.” (10). Using such striking facts, Barry applies reasoning through statistics to help the reader understand the importance of defaults. Schwartz leaves the reader thinking about the default choices they make, and what stakes are there making a decision.