The illusion of control: why you do not always get what you deserve

You and your colleagues are fighting for a more promising position. In the most tense moment, when about to appear suddenly boost your appendix is ​​inflamed and you get a week in the hospital. After returning to work is that a colleague won - his place.

Few people in this situation, humbly accept defeat. Most likely, you will rant and rave, curse your body for this and the bases to believe that a colleague has sent down to you damage. This is the bitter consequences of the illusion of control: in fact, all the plans just broke the case.

What is the illusion of control

This cognitive bias that causes you to believe that because of your actions the likelihood of success is much higher than it actually is.

The simplest example - a game of dice. Watching the players, the researchers noticedCraps and MagicThat when a person wants to get a great figure, he throws bones strong, and when smaller - gently and carefully. Shot Power does not affect the total value, but people are still making effortsTo the bones turned sideways.

Why do we try to control everything

It's connected The Illusion of Control the habit of acting in everyday life. There are two types of situations: those that require the display of skills, - work, sports, relationships, and those where predominates case - lottery, gambling, sports betting.

You need to make the right to get a good result in a situation where a lot depends on you selection, To compete, to study the situation, to build a strategy. When it determines the case, all of these actions are useless. But as people got used to them, it is the habit of continuing to do something. In this case, it seems to him that his actions increase the chances of success.

For example, people are more willing to take risks if you do not believe that everything is a foregone conclusion. In the experiment,Temporal orientation and perceived control as determinants of risk-taking. people have proposed two kinds of bets: one bet they did before the dice throw and scientists announced the results, the other - after the cast, but before the announcement of the result.

In fact, people could not affect the outcome: what's the difference when guessing, if you still do not see the bones? But in the first case, the participants felt that they somehow manage events, while in the second it was all decided - bone fell out.

As a rule, this applies only to those situations where a person canIllusion of control: The role of personal involvement do something. For example, select lottery ticket or come up with a strategy of poker. But even if a person generally can not affect the outcome, it still comes up with ways to control: counts of the stars for the best day of the transaction, or bring a hamster as a sacrifice to the spirits.

Moreover, the belief in the absolute equality of action and the consequences would have us believe in a just world and wait for a reward for his services.

Why do we believe in justice

People tend to believe that everything in life comes back: good people happen to nice things and the bad get what they deserve.

In one experiment,Evaluation of performance as a function of performer's reward and attractiveness. participants were asked to evaluate the skills of the two employees, one of which was randomly awarded. And people are always evaluated by the latter as more capable.

In another study, participants watchedObserver's reaction to the «innocent victim»: Compassion or rejection?As unknown people beat them current for any errors in the assignments. To remove the discomfort from the fact that they can not influence what is happening, the participants started deny and devalue the suffering of the victims: to believe that they deserve it, to confirm the faith in just peace.

Such faith excludes the possibility of an event that is always present in real life. Good people get cancer and broken in an accident, the cruel lottery win, silly get a good job, smart sitting without money. The element of chance is present everywhere, but admit it - means to earn an anxiety disorder and is constantly tormented by the fear of the unknown.

When the illusion of control can prevent

On the one hand, the illusion of control we need not to be discouraged and to continue to do something about it, despite the fact that at any moment everything can roll to hell. On the other hand, it makes commit stupid things, to believe in the universal validity and to blame themselves for what is not our fault.

For example, when using even the most talented team head It depends on the actions of other people: that they will take, as the problem understand what circumstances prevent them to fulfill the plan. Predict all possible. But after the failure of a person may, without assessing the contribution and the case work, blame themselves for the failure and to make fear of the future.

How not to fall into the trap

Here's what you can do to not suffer from the illusion of control:

1. Before starting any project, think that depends on you, that - from the other team members, and that in general it is impossible to predict. This will help you prevent certain situations and in case of failure to maintain composure.
2. Stop coming up with a system where they do not exist. Gambling, horoscopes, Divination, fatalism. Everybody wants certainty and security of, but the world does not work. If the case is determined by the case and you want to protect against the loss - just do not participate in it.
3. Before you blame yourself, evaluate the situation. In case of failure, analyze what went wrong and that it affected the outcome of the case. If this was your fault - overlooked, too lazy to check, forgotten, - shall carry a lesson for the future. If, however, intervened the case, simply acknowledge that it happens.