Abstract
Experiencing events as controllable is essential for human well-being. Based on classic psychological theory, we test how internal control beliefs impact the affective valuation of task outcomes, neural dynamics and ensuing behavioral preferences. In three consecutive studies we show that dynamics in positive affect increase, with a qualitative shift towards self-evaluative pride, when agents believe they caused a given outcome. We demonstrate that these outcomes engage brain networks processing self-referential information in the cortical midline. Here, activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex tracks outcome valence regarding both success as well as internal control, and covaries with positive affect in response to outcomes. These affective dynamics also relate to increased functional coupling between the ventral striatum and cortical midline structures. Finally, we show that pride predicts preferences for control, even at monetary costs. Our investigations extend recent models of positive affect and well-being, and emphasize that control beliefs drive intrinsic motivation.
Highlights
Experiencing events as controllable is essential for human well-being
On the medium level of control, WIN and noWIN outcomes allegedly depended on the correct choice between the two colors introducing the opportunity to choose in medium control (MC)
On the highest level of control, WIN and noWIN outcomes allegedly depended on whether subjects were able to identify the brightest square within the shades of one color allowing the attribution of task outcomes to internal causes
Summary
Experiencing events as controllable is essential for human well-being. Based on classic psychological theory, we test how internal control beliefs impact the affective valuation of task outcomes, neural dynamics and ensuing behavioral preferences. Studies have demonstrated that humans favor choice options that are followed by a second choice over those that are not[15], prefer tasks with more over those with fewer choice options[16], and value the opportunity to choose in a gamble[17,18,19] In this line, cues signaling an upcoming choice were associated with increased activity in the ventral striatum (VS)[18,19], a brain region implicated in dopaminergic reward processing[20,21,22]. Having choices is the condition precedent for exerting control, the lynchpin of psychological theory relating control beliefs to well-being are self-related thoughts and subjective models of whether an outcome can be achieved due to the capabilities of the agent[1,2,4,6]. If the context offers the potential for building the belief of internal control over outcomes, it is possible to attribute events to the self, own efforts, and abilities, with broader implications for selfrelated affect and motivation[24,25]
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