The effects of need state and opponent competence on the illusion of control : an honors thesis (HONRS 499)

Abstract

A laboratory experiment was conducted in order to test the hypotheses that need state and opponent competence influence the illusion of control. Specifically, subjects in a high need state and competing against an incompetent opponent in a purely chance card-drawing game were predicted to be more affected by the illusion of control than those subjects who were in low need and competing against a competent opponent. In the experiment, food-satiated. or food-deprived subjects competed against either a competent opponent or an incompetent one in a purely chance task. Using analyses of variance, significant results were obtained for the need state manipulation. The results showed that high need state is capable of inducing the illusion of control as evidenced by increased betting among the hungry subjects.