Effect of Superstition on the Perception of Control

Effect of Superstition on the Perception of ControlThe Effect of Superstition on the Perception of Control all over a Partially Uncontrollable SituationThe effects of superstition on the an individuals behaviour has long been an bea of interest in psychological research. Matute (1994, 1995) showed that an individuals response to uncontrollable circumstances is dictated by their train of superstition. Individuals with low levels of irrational belief tend to show a decrease in cognitive capacity motivation, known as lettered helplessness (Abramson, Seligman, Teasdale, 1978 Hiroto Seligman, 1975). Whilst individuals with high levels of superstitious belief, on the other hand, do non appear to develop this learned helpless, and it has been hypothesised superstitions provide an individual with an illusion of control (Matute 1994, 1995). Likewise, Dudley (1999) suggested that superstitious beliefs inhibit the learned helplessness effect by provided participants with an external lo cus of control.Conversely, it has been suggested that there may be other factors which inhibit the learned helplessness effect, such as attribution style (Abramson et at., 1978). Seligman (as cited in Rudski, 2004), conducted an experiment which showed that individual who formed particularly pessimistic attributions were sensitised to learned helplessness, in addition to depression.Furthermore, many studies which investigate superstitious belief the illusion of control do so by utilising minds of contingency from the participant. Contingency judgements are useful as they help to explain how the illusion of control develops in participants (Yarritu, Matute, Vadillo, 2013). Blanco, Matute Vadillo (2011) showed that a participants contingency judgement is dependant on their level of action. It has been suggested, that the this combination with this level of action effect, and the high probability of a specific outcome, even when that outcome is uncontrollable, is what caused the pa rticipant to develop the illusion of control (Yarritu et at., 2013).This study aims to build on preexistent research by investigating whether an individuals scholarship of control over a partially uncontrollable situation is impacted by their level of superstitious belief. To do this, participants were asked to perform a contingency judgement task, the results of which were then compared in relation to their level of superstition. It is hypothesised, firstly, that individuals with higher levels of superstition will report having higher levels of control in the active condition, when compared to individuals with low superstition and secondly, that this effect will be less apparent in the peaceable condition.MethodParticipantsThe participants were 996 undergraduate psychology students from the University of New sulfur Wales (mean age = 19.8 long time 644 females 352 males). They participated in this experiment as part of their week 5 tutorial class.DesignThis study took the form o f a quasi-experiment, as it assessed the participants perception of control over a partially controllable situation, in relation to their level of superstition. As such, the independent variable, high or low superstition, was determined by the Superstitious Beliefs Questionnaires (SBQ). Participants were divided into the high superstition and low superstition groups based on a median split of the SBQ score. Based on the responses given, 492 participants (mean age = 19.7 years 320 females 172 males) were allocated to the high superstition group, whilst the remaining 504 participants (mean age = 19.9 years 324 females 180 males) formed the low superstition group. This experiment then tested two conditions, dubbed the active and the passive condition. The dependent variable, that is, the participants perception of control, was then measured, by self-report.MaterialsThe experiment was carried out on standard computer terminals in one of the universitys computer labs. Inquisit software ( Millisecond Software, Seattle) was used to birth the experimental stimuli.In the active condition, participants were presented with a swooning bulb graphic button. Participants could choose whether or not to press the button, and the light bulb would either light up, or remain off as a result of their decision. As a result, there were four categories of trial press with light, press without light, no-press with light and no-press without light. later 10 trials participants were asked to rate how much control they felt they had over the light bulb.In the passive condition, participants were only presented with a light bulb graphic, and informed that they would spy an notional friend, Bob, perform the task. As in the active condition, there were four categories of trial, and after 10 trials, participants were asked to rate the level of control they perceived Bob had over the light bulb.Participants completed the Superstitious Beliefs Questionnaire (SBQ), a demographic survey, an d were asked if they were aware of the experiments design. The SBQ is a 26 item scale, designed to measure the level of superstitious belief in an individual. Each item of the SBQ can be scored from 0 up to 4, making a maximum score of 104 points possible. Participants who scored less than or equal to 46 on the SBQ were placed in the low superstition group, whilst those who scored above 46 were placed in the high superstition group.ProcedureThe participants were asked to complete a contingency judgement task, in two conditions. Each condition consisted of four sets of 10 trials. In the active condition, participants were instructed to choose between pressing or not pressing a button on the screen. This action or inaction then lead to a light bulb on the screen being illuminated. After 10 trials of this, participants were asked to rate how much control they had over the light bulb, using a sliding scale displayed on the screen. In the passive condition, participants were informed tha t they would observe an imaginary friend performing the task. The participants were able to observe the outcome (whether the light turned on or remained off) and were informed of the imaginary friend action (pressing or not pressing the button). Participants were again asked to rate how much control the imaginary friend had over the light bulb.ReferencesAbramson, L. Y., Seligman, M. E. P., Teasdale, J. D. (1978). knowledgeable helplessness in humans Critique and reformulation. ledger of Abnormal Psychology, 87(1), 4974.Blanco, F., Matute, H., Vadillo, M. A. (2011). Making the uncontrollable seem controllable The role of action in the illusion of control. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 64(7), 12901304.Dudley, R. (1999). The effect of superstitious belief on performance following an unsolvable problem. Personality and Individual Differences, 26(6), 10571064Hiroto, D. S., Seligman, M. E. P. (1975). Generality of learned helplessness in man. Journal of Personality an d Social Psychology, 31(2), 311-327.Matute, H. (1994). Learned helplessness and superstitious behavior as opposite effects of uncontrollable reinforcement in humans. Learning and Motivation, 25(2), 216-232.Matute, H. (1995). 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