Uploaded September 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
I have this issue at home. I now have this modern-looking corner with my new sofa and rug, but my desk is just this old dining table that came with the apartment I rent, which doesn't really match. It's not mine, so I can't replace it. Which is probably a good thing because it stops me from spending money. And there's nothing wrong with it!
It's just the Diderot effect playing out. This human need of trying to find unity in our possessions and, by extension, trying to convince ourselves that our identity itself is uniform.
Companies exploit this human tendency, to sell you more stuff.
When you buy an iPhone, it's now more tempting to also get a MacBook. It's the same Apple ecosystem, you can airdrop files, take phone calls on your laptop, it all works so well together.
And when you visit Ikea, they have these complete rooms set up in a certain style. You came to buy a new chair but in that room, it's next to a matching sofa, a coffee table, a rug and decorations, and together, they represent a whole new identity or lifestyle.
– WHAT TO WATCH NEXT –
Why You Want Things You Don’t Need | Diderot Effect: youtu.be/uUlVN2ioTZE
I have this issue at home. I now have this modern-looking corner with my new sofa and rug, but my desk is just this old dining table that came with the apartment I rent, which doesn't really match. It's not mine, so I can't replace it. Which is probably a good thing because it stops me from spending money. And there's nothing wrong with it!
It's just the Diderot effect playing out. This human need of trying to find unity in our possessions and, by extension, trying to convince ourselves that our identity itself is uniform.
Companies exploit this human tendency, to sell you more stuff.
When you buy an iPhone, it's now more tempting to also get a MacBook. It's the same Apple ecosystem, you can airdrop files, take phone calls on your laptop, it all works so well together.
And when you visit Ikea, they have these complete rooms set up in a certain style. You came to buy a new chair but in that room, it's next to a matching sofa, a coffee table, a rug and decorations, and together, they represent a whole new identity or lifestyle.
– WHAT TO WATCH NEXT –
Why You Want Things You Don’t Need | Diderot Effect: youtu.be/uUlVN2ioTZE
