10 checked facts

Control

Everything on this site about control — each one naming the study behind it.

You are blind to the persistence of your own thoughts.
The harder you attempt to suppress a specific thought, the more frequently it enters your awareness.…
Your brain creates patterns where there are none.
A 2008 study found that individuals who were prompted to feel a lack of control were more likely to perceive illusory …
You overestimate your control over random outcomes.
When participants in a 1975 study were asked to pick a card, they were more confident of winning if they picked it the…
You assume you influence things that are purely random.
People are more confident in their ability to win a game of chance if they feel a sense of personal involvement.…
You believe you control things that are purely random.
The illusion of control causes you to overestimate your influence over chance-based outcomes.…
You believe your effort influences random outcomes.
A 1975 study found people bet more on lottery tickets when they selected the numbers themselves.…
You feel more capable when you believe you have control.
A 1975 study demonstrated that people were less likely to sell a lottery ticket if they were the ones who had chosen t…
You believe you control events that are entirely random.
A 1975 study showed that people overestimate their chances of winning a game of pure luck if they have performed a per…
You roll dice harder to influence the outcome.
People believe they have influence over random outcomes when they are personally involved in the process.…
You interpret luck as evidence of your own skill.
People who perceive a sense of control over a random event significantly overestimate their probability of success.…