[Tao332]

Mechanically it's the same as divination. It just has all the superstition and pretenses of the supernatural stripped away. E.g. I don't think there's anything magical about the I Ching, but it can be a useful way to consider a situation from an angle you wouldn't normally choose.

[smcl]

There's also a principle which I cannot remember the name of, where in some situations when confronted with a set of options that are of similar value, if you're forced to make a choice yourself you end up less satisfied than if a random choice was made for you. There was a segment on this in a RadioLab episode a decade ago or so. It makes a bit of sense - you can easily regret a decision you personally make to various degrees, but with something left to chance there's little to regret or stew over.

[WalterGR]

The Paradox of Choice, maybe? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Paradox_of_Choice

[smcl]

Ah yeah sounds like it