When do they push the right buttons? Need for closure and the role of perceived control in situations of uncertainty

Abstract

The present research examined the role of heightened perceived control as a strategy to cope with uncertainty in need for closure (NFC). We assume that in the situation of uncertainty, NFC is associated with using strategies that heighten perceived control. To test this assumption we run two studies using a causal learning paradigm wherein participants' goal was to find out whether clicking a button had any effect on a triangle lighting up with no specific instructions on how to approach the task. Two within-subject factors, i.e., certainty schedules and type of interval, were introduced to vary the uncertainty experienced in the task. In Study 1 (N = 45) we demonstrated that the task indeed induced varying degrees of uncertainty depending on these factors and that NFC related to more presses (i.e., effortful means). In Study 2 (N = 94) we demonstrated also that high NFC was associated with more presses which was linked to heightened perceived control.