So I noticed the other day that a list of the 100 best books of the 21st Century had just come out. As an avid reader, I couldn’t wait to jump in and see what the book reviewers chose as the best books of the last 24 years (they missed some great ones but I digress).
But before I could get through them, another list caught my eye - the 100 best places in the world to travel. But right in the middle of that list, how could I pass up a list that would tell me the 10 best ways to serve corn - after all, it’s corn season! Then, there’s the 10 things I’m wearing that make me look older, or the 10 ways in which my home decor is out of style.
So, I got interested in the idea of lists - why are there so many popping up all over the internet , and why are we so drawn to them?
(Participants laughing during a Knuckleball Comedy team building event)
Unsurprisingly, I’m not the first to be curious and of course, there’s been studies and experts have weighed in. How could I pass up an article titled “A list of reasons our brains love lists.”
As we know, there’s so much content on the internet vying for our interest. So we scroll through the morass, our gaze either stops or we simply keep scanning. A headline that’s graphically salient has a greater chance of capturing our eye, and with dozens of headlines and stories begging for our attention, numerals break up the visual field.
A study showed that people prefer headlines that are both creative and uninformative, like “The smell of corruption, the scent of truth” - ooh interesting. List style headlines often provide that optimal balance of information and ambivalence, intriguing just enough to click on the chance that we’ll come across something particularly relevant or exciting.
And then of course, there’s our tendency to make our own lists - groceries, “to do” lists which just make us feel better, more in control. But the list’s deepest appeal and the source of its staying power, goes beyond the fact that it feels good.
Psychologists investigated what, if anything, could alleviate the so-called paradox of choice, the phenomenon that the more information and options we have, the worse we feel. The faster we can make a decision, whether it’s what we’re going to eat or read, the happier we are. So a list is an easy pick, in part because it promises a definite ending; we think we know what we’re in for, and that certainty is both alluring and reassuring.
Given the great appeal of lists, how can I end this blog without providing our readers with a list. Hmm, I know - how about a list of reasons to hire Knuckleball Comedy for your next corporate team building, professional development event:
1) to provide a relaxing way for your employees to bond together outside their corporate roles in the company;
2) to show your employees that you value them by giving them the opportunity to just have some fun;
3) to help shy or reticent employees find their voice without judgment ;
4) to allow them to tap into their creative side, which might translate into great ideas in the workplace;
5) to simply enjoy the pleasure of laughter.
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