Top 10 Reasons Why "Top 10" Lists are Popular and Appealing

Top 10 lists are popular and commonly used in everyday life. Sometimes, the list might be for a topic in school, where the teacher wants to compile key information for a test. Other times, it could be a list of the Top 10 Restaurants in the area you are visiting.

You might also be bored at home and looking for something to do. Or, you might just be on your device, voting and commenting on lists that may or may not have any usefulness or relevance to what you are doing, but you feel it is a good way to pass the time anyway.

Whatever the reason for looking at a list in the first place, there are reasons why a list is more appealing than an essay or other mediums. Some of these reasons have practical relevance, such as needing to quickly read up on a topic in the five minutes before leaving the house. Others stem from psychological factors, such as why lists are more engaging to the human brain than lessons, lectures, or long-winded essays.
The Top Ten
They are easy to take in

It is easier to take in and remember information in smaller sections rather than in long chunks. This means that it is easier to take in information from a list, where the key information is in a small section. If the reader wishes to gain greater knowledge on any particular section, they can read further, but they do not need to read an essay to find the essential information.

They can be interesting if done well and carefully

Lists have a huge potential for good content. However, a list that is put together hurriedly in five minutes will not have the same quality as one where the creator has taken time and experience into account. If a list has been thought about carefully and, in some situations, researched as well, it can create a very interesting piece of content.

They encourage debate

Normally, a list is not objective fact. This means that it is open to opinion. This difference in opinions means that it inspires debate, allowing people to explain their own opinions and see the topic from different points of view. They might possibly change their own opinion if the argument is presented well.

They make it interesting to guess what will be on the list

When the brain reads the title of a list, the initial response is often for the person to make an internal decision about which items they believe should be highest on the list, and compare that to what actually is highest. This reaction means that people may have a stronger response and will positively promote their own opinion and engage in the topic's debate.

They can express opinions

Having an argument with someone you know about what the best song of all time is may not always be the best way to express your opinion. Sometimes, making a list can be much more effective as you are not only saying what your top song is, but also explaining why and comparing it to other good songs to show why you think that song is the best. This approach is better than merely stating why that song is good or better than your friend's choice.

To me, 'tis the biggest strength.

They are quicker to create than longer pieces of writing

If I were to write an essay about why Romeo and Juliet is a ridiculous and unrealistic play, I (being the aspergirl that I am) would end up writing a five-page long repetitive and extremely dull mass of writing. However, if I were to express the same information as a list, I would enable myself to select the key information and more concisely explain its importance - in a much shorter amount of time than it would otherwise have taken.

Also, if the task is to write an essay, it can make the process quicker as you already have all the essential information in an easy-to-read form, and you can efficiently convert it into an essay of higher quality.

They are easy to skim

When you only have a short time to find information, lists are really helpful. Although they may contain a lot of information, the key information is short and concise. To find the essential information, you only need to skim read the points - the explanation only needs to be used to gain further detail on points.

Ten is a psychologically satisfying number
Lists bring order to chaos

A clear and concise list can organize and present opinions tidily. Of course, lists that are highly based on opinion and less on actual facts often end up as a jumble of polar opposite opinions, but normally, they do bring more order than there would otherwise have been.

The human brain wants to be proved right

When you go onto a list, you generally have your own opinion of what you want to be number one. If that item turns out to be number one, the human brain has a conscious or unconscious sense of pride and the belief that they are correct. For this reason, going on a list where the items are similar to what you thought they should be can actually be good for self-esteem, as you have been proved to be correct.

The Contenders
We are lazy

The human brain instinctively wants the easiest and most efficient way to complete an action. Finding and learning information is one such action. A list (particularly numbered ones like Top 10 lists) is a very efficient method, creating an environment that is comfortable and somewhat more enjoyable than others.

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