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What is the illusion of control?

PsychologyLesson on requestFree to read

Quick answer

The illusion of control is our tendency to believe we can influence outcomes that are actually down to chance. People may feel that blowing on dice or choosing their own lottery numbers improves their odds — even though it changes nothing.

Key things to understand

  1. We overestimate our control over random events.
  2. It's strongest when we're personally involved.
  3. It fuels superstitions and risky bets.
  4. It can lead to poor decisions under uncertainty.

People also ask

What is the illusion of control?
The belief that we can influence outcomes that are really determined by chance.
What's an example of the illusion of control?
Picking your own lottery numbers or blowing on dice, feeling it improves your odds when it doesn't.
Why does the illusion of control happen?
Active involvement and familiar choices make random outcomes feel more controllable than they are.