Illusion of Control and Causal Reasoning - Week 7

Question 1

Contingency

Answer 1

• Reinforcing behaviour is related to whether it makes sense to respond
• P(O/R)>P(O/No Response) means that it makes sense for an animal to respond

Question 2

If P(O/R) = 0.05 and P(O/No Response) = 0, what will the rat learn?

Answer 2

• Every time a rat in the skinner box presses the button, it is reinforced 5% of the time.
• This is enough for rats to respond
• If a rat does not respond, it will not be rewarded

Question 3

If P(O/R) = 0.05 and P(O/No Response) = 0.05, what will the rat learn?

Answer 3

• It will learn that it does not need to respond

- It will be reinforced either way

Question 4

Philosophical Underpinnings

Answer 4

• Contiguity: (A..B > A……B): -Stimuli closer together in proximity are more likely to be perceived as causally related
• Cause before effect (A-B > B-A): -Stimuli is prior to reinforced
• Consistency of effect (AB, AB, AB): -Consistent actions better for learning

Question 5

What happened to causal ratings when contingency got higher in Human Resourcing Studies?

Answer 5

Causal ratings got higher

Question 6

Illusion of Control

Answer 6

• Subjective outcome responses>Objective outcome responses
• Skill is perceived perceived in chance tasks
• Superstitious
• Is stronger when people have a need for the outcome (Food Deprivation, dept for gamblers)

Question 7

Illusion of control explanations

Answer 7

• Ego/Motivational factors: Like to believe they are in control of the outcome
• Self-serving attributions: Must be skill rather than luck
• Perceptual/Neurophysical: Find it hard to see the world as random
• Effects of mental illness: Find it hard to make connections

Question 8

Confusion of Chance and Skill

Answer 8

-Langer

Question 9

Types of Illusion Control

Answer 9

Primary - Direct strategies (Skill and timing)

Secondary - Alignment with higher forces (God and superstitions)

Question 10

Predictive/Interpretive Control

Answer 10

• Predictive: Superstitions, overdue for rewards

- Interpretive: Thinking they are in control

Question 11

Matute

Answer 11

• Naturalistic: Chance

- Analytical: Control

Question 12

Mood states and illusions of control

Answer 12

• Depressive people may have lower I of C

- Anxious people may have higher I of C

Question 13

Sequence Effects

Answer 13

-Primed sequences or early wins more likely to yield a greater I of C

Question 14

The Control Heuristic

Answer 14

-Bias relates to beliefs about control