Behavioral results
As hypothesized, choice set size had a significant effect on the perceived difficulty of choosing (F (3,81) = 11.187, p< 0.001, η 2 = 0.293). Post hoc tests revealed that participants experienced greater difficulty in selecting from 8, 12, and 16 options compared to 4 options (t (27) = -3.689,p = 0.001, d = -0.491; t (27) = -5.366, p< 0.001, d = -0.714; t (27) = -4.528, p< 0.001, d = -0.602). There were no significant differences observed in any other condition (ps>0.584, Fig. 2A ). The results showed that the size of the choice set had a significant effect on the tendency to avoid certain behaviors (F (3,81) = 6.136, p < 0.001,η 2 = 0.185). Post hoc tests showed that participants were more likely to avoid making a choice when choosing from 8, 12, and 16 options compared to 4 options (t (27) = -2.162,p = 0.023, d = -0.268; t (27) = -3.047, p = 0.019, d = -0.377; t (27) = -4.128, p < 0.001, d = -0.511),with no significant differences in any other condition (ps >0.118, Fig. 2A ).
As for the emotional experience of choice, the choice set size had a significant effect on both positive and negative emotional experiences (F (3,81) = 3.695, p = 0.015, η 2 = 0.120; F (3,81) = 11.7, p < 0.001,η 2 = 0.302). Fewer positive experiences (t (27) = 1.889, p = 0.007, d = 0.348; t (27) = 2.334, p = 0.012, d = 0.430; t (27) = 3.223,p = 0.011, d = 0.594) and more negative experiences (t (27) = -4.858, p < 0.001, d = -0.682;t (27) = -4.501, p < 0.001, d = -0.632;t (27) = -5.072, p < 0.001, d = -0.712) were observed when participants chose from 8, 12, and 16 options compared to 4 options, with no significant differences in any of the other conditions (ps > 0.290, ps> 0.558, Fig. 2A ).