The Psychology of Control

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Have you ever asked yourself, “Why did that happen to me?” after going through a difficult experience, such as failing at something or not receiving the response you were hoping for? If the answer is yes, you are not alone. People tend to look for explanations for events, especially when they don’t go as planned. Psychology states these circumstances are connected to our need for control.

 Our Brain Doesn’t Like Uncertainty

Our innate ability to identify patterns in the world helps us feel in control and make sense of anything. Under stress, the brain seeks answers quickly instead of remaining inactive. This process, which psychologists refer to as causal inference, is the propensity to conclude that one occurrence caused another, even when the connection is just a coincidence. Seeing faces in clouds or linking unconnected occurrences are examples of Illusory Pattern Perception. In some cases, even false patterns can help quiet the mind. According to research by Hirsh, Mar, and Peterson (2012), uncertainty triggers the anterior cingulate cortex, which reacts to possible dangers. For this reason, it can be difficult to wait for the test results. The brain encourages us to seek solutions and views the uncertainty as harmful. In everyday life, this frequently entails coming up with justifications. When someone doesn’t respond, we can assume that they’re busy or upset. Even inaccurate explanations can offer a minimal sense of control, which is often preferred over uncertainty.

The Illusion of Control

In many situations, people think they have more power over events than they do, even events governed by luck. The psychological phenomenon is described as the illusion of control and was explained by Ellen Langer in 1975, whereby an individual believes their involvement can influence an outcome in a situation that is otherwise uncontrollable. In one of Langer’s experiments, participants who were free to choose the lottery ticket which they preferred the most valued it more and were less willing to trade it away, even though the odds of winning were the same for every ticket. Choosing increases emotional attachment, which increases the sense of winning. However, it doesn’t always have negative consequences. Certain beliefs have been found to boost motivation and reduce anxiety in stressful situations. In order to regain control, people from various cultures would embrace a symbolic or spiritual practice, such as ritual or a “lucky” object. When the outcome is uncertain, it is often more emotionally reassuring to believe that everything will work out.

Superstitions and Meaning-Making

Sometimes the need for control goes too far, and people turn to conspiracy theories or superstitions. Especially when there are no obvious solutions, the brain fills in the blanks by forming patterns that don’t actually relate to anything. Superstitions, such as repeating rituals or believing in lucky objects, provide comfort even though they don’t work. Also, conspiracy theories can be fueled by the same way of thinking. For example, thinking that an incident was “meant to happen” instead of a coincidence gives people a false sense of control. This pattern-seeking behavior refers to the brain’s propensity to interpret randomness. Although this might decrease anxiety, it can also cause false beliefs and alter our understanding of reality.

The Just World Belief

Most people want to believe that the world is fair and support the idea that good things happen to good people and bad things happen to those who deserve them. This idea is known as Just World Belief which was introduced in the 1960s by psychologist Melvin Lerner. The reason behind this mental pattern is that believing people get what they deserve provides a sense of control and emotional safety. However, when innocent people face it or random tragedies occur, this belief is challenged; people try to find someone to blame.

Blame as a Defense Mechanism

One of Lerner’s experiments illustrates this effect, participants observed what they thought were painful electrical shocks given to a woman. They blamed her because they thought she must have done something wrong to deserve it. It has been shown that people who support this belief are more likely to blame specific people for situations like disease or homelessness rather than taking systemic or external issues into account. People feel safer when they place the blame on others: “If I do the right thing, this won’t happen to me.” However, this way of thinking can reduce empathy for individuals who suffer and result in harsh and unfair judgments.

Conclusion

The need to seek answers for the events in our lives is a natural part of being human. Whether it turns into blame, superstitions, or imagined patterns, these responses offer comfort during uncertainty by restoring a sense of control. While this tendency helps us feel safer, it can also pull us away from reality by fueling false beliefs. Understanding this instinct allows us to become more aware of how and why we explain the world the way we do. Seeking meaning isn’t a weakness, it’s the mind’s way of coping with a world that isn’t always fair.

By Selin Palti

selin.palti01@icatt.it

References

Hirsh, J. B., Mar, R. A., & Peterson, J. B. (2012). Psychological entropy: A framework for understanding uncertainty-related anxiety. Psychological Review, 119(2), 304–320. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0026767

Langer, E. J. (1975). The illusion of control. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 32(2), 311–328. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.32.2.311

Lerner, M. J., & Simmons, C. H. (1966). Observer’s reaction to the “innocent victim”: Compassion or rejection? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 4(2), 203–210. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0023562

Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. (n.d.). The just world theory. Santa Clara University. https://www.scu.edu/ethics/ethics-resources/ethical-decision-making/the-just-world-theory/

Jhangiani, R., & Tarry, H. (2014). Principles of social psychology – 1st international edition. BCcampus. https://opentextbc.ca/socialpsychology/chapter/biases-in-attribution/

Nikolopoulou, K. (2023, February 24). What is self-serving bias? Definition & example. Scribbr. https://www.scribbr.com/research-bias/self-serving-bias/