The Diderot Effect
Or The New Dressing Gown Problem
Hello,
I’ve met very few people who can’t relate in some form to the Diderot Effect: a spiral of consumption.
It’s also the subject of the latest podcast episode. Tom had me laughing out loud in this one and Diderot’s story and essay: “Regrets on Parting with my Old Dressing Gown” is both fun and interesting. How much do our possessions influence who we are?
The sketch is below and you can listen here: Spotify, Apple podcasts, YouTube, online
I learned it from James Clear and it appears in his blockbuster Atomic Habits, and it makes an appearance in Big Ideas Little Pictures.
When have you experienced the Diderot Effect?
Jono
PS We tried a new recording platform and the audio wasn’t as clear as usual this time. Hope it doesn’t interfere too much with listening.
I never knew there was a name for this, so thank you (I learn so many things from Sketchplanations!) My example is with a friend who fretted over some crows feet, so she got Botox. Shortly afterwards, she then fretted that since her eyes looked younger, now her smile lines were more apparent, so back to the doctor's office she went. Rinse and repeat for her forehead lines. I finally understood that's why some celebrities go crazy with fillers: they mean to do just one little thing and due to the Diderot effect, they end up with an entirely new face.
The effect is showing up in doing renovations to our old home. The kitchen cabinet drawers are not working well and need to be replaced. Replacing drawers means replacing door cabinets too. But the replacement cabinets will need new counter-tops which means that the current tile back-splash needs to be replaced. Those items won't look right with the existing floor which itself is an anachronism with the window shades. Is it a Diderot or Domino Effect?