We all want to believe we can predict and shape our future, but this is rarely true.
Despite our best efforts to plan and prepare, doesn’t the reality turn out to be so different?
Humans tend to overestimate their control over outcomes.
Whether superstitions or rituals, we often create illusions of control to cope with uncertainty and minimize risk.
This post explains what “Illusion of Control” (in cognitive biases) means – including its origins and how you can survive it. So buckle up for this riveting ride through the world of illusory decision-making!
Understanding The “Illusion of Control“
The illusion of control makes people overestimate their power over outcomes they cannot influence. This can be tempting, giving us hope and making us feel like we are in control when something is not going our way.
Imagine a student walking into the examination hall without preparation but believing his lucky magical pen will work as a wand to score! The student in this scenario is experiencing the illusion of control bias and believes that the lucky pen has the power to influence the exam results.
Guess what! The lucky pen is just a simple one with no whatsoever smart features. How can it have any control over the outcome? So is this overconfidence or foolishness on the part of the student? This tendency can lead people to make irrational decisions based on a false sense of control. It may result in disappointment or negative consequences.
We mistakenly believe we can manipulate or change uncontrollable events like luck or fate, and this belief can cause us to act irrationally in hopes of influencing an outcome beyond our grasp. To put it bluntly, having an illusion of control is like believing you can escape your problems instead of facing them head-on because you seem to have this so-called positive outlook.
Exploited And Exploiters
Victims of the illusion of control typically have a low level of self-awareness and a distorted perception of reality due to their own biases. As a result, these individuals tend to overestimate their agency and underestimate external factors that might influence outcomes.
People who take advantage of this bias are usually those with malicious intentions, such as scammers or con artists who exploit people’s willingness to believe they can overcome seemingly insurmountable odds to turn a profit.
Moreover, this strategy can be employed by experienced sales agents who falsely promote a product as a solution to all issues. In contrast, in actuality, it may not be as efficient as advertised.
Day-To-Day Illusion of Control
- Believing that a lucky charm will bring good luck at a casino.
- Sports persons relying heavily on superstition-based rituals to win.
- Thinking that one can control their destiny with magical thinking or wishful thinking.
- Believing that a particular stock will go up, despite no indication that the market is doing well or any fundamental analysis to back it up.
- Thinking that one can influence the outcome of a specific event through sheer positive affirmation or willpower alone.
Recognizing When You Are Slipping Into The Illusion of Control Trap
One way to identify if one is falling into the “Illusion of Control” trap is to ask oneself if you rely heavily on superstition-based rituals, magical thinking or an over-positive attitude to attain or control external outcomes.
It can also be helpful to question one’s beliefs about an individual’s control over external events, especially if those beliefs seem unrealistically positive or optimistic.
Finally, it can also be helpful to consult trusted individuals and seek their feedback to determine whether a particular decision has been made out of the illusion of having control over events or based on realistic assessment.
Overcoming the Illusion of Control
Recognize that you can’t always control outside factors
Attempting to control external events and circumstances will often lead to frustration, as these are largely beyond our capabilities.
Focus on what you can handle
Concentrate instead on things that you have the power to influence, such as your behavior and attitude.
Develop mental resilience
Learning to confront challenging circumstances with an attitude of positivity rather than negativity and apprehension is an effective means of enhancing one’s prospect of triumph when confronted with difficulties.
Set realistic goals
Don’t expect too much of yourself or be unrealistic in what you think you can achieve; this can lead to disappointment or feeling overwhelmed by the challenge.
Do something that scares you
Taking risks may not always succeed, but the experience of pushing beyond your comfort zone can build courage and self-belief over time.
Embrace failure
Acknowledge that mistakes are part of the learning process; failure is an opportunity for growth rather than a personal disaster waiting to happen!
Take action
Rather than staying stuck in unhelpful thought patterns, decide on a course of action and make it happen!
Final Thoughts
Sports people around the world are known to have various pre-game rituals and superstitious beliefs that they follow religiously. Some wear lucky socks, some carry lucky charms, and others perform a specific routine before the game.
But what matters in sports is developing the skills and strategies to succeed. Those who train hard, practice regularly, and refine their abilities are likelier to perform well and achieve success than those who rely on superstition or the illusion of control.
While there’s no denying that these rituals can help an athlete feel more confident and focused, it’s important to recognize that they don’t directly impact the performance or outcome of the game.
This mindset leads to better performance on the field and better mental and emotional health off the field. However, while there’s no denying that these rituals can help an athlete feel more confident and focused. At the same time, it is important to recognize that they would not actually have any direct impact on the performance or outcome of the game.
Finally
The next time you feel you are in complete control or getting into the grips of a superstitious belief, then take a step back and ask yourself if that’s really the case? Chances are, it’s just the illusion of control at play. And if, you are interested in knowing about other common cognitive biases, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter.
Reference
The above article is based on the book Thinking Clearly; this article is here to help us learn and understand how our minds can be tricked by something called cognitive biases.