PSYCH253 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Diminishing Returns, Group Polarization, James W. Pennebaker
5 Dec 2017
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Document Summary
Studies about control started with animal studies on rats. Two rats connected to wire that gives an electric shock, one of the rats can turn off the shock. Even though the stimuli is the same, their reactions are different (because one rat has control) Rats in control were less likely to get diseases. Loud noise; one person had control over the switch vs. the other who didn"t. Person with control is much less upset by the noise. Even perceived control makes them feel better (told the switch works intermittently but it"s not actually even connected however people still have some feeling of control) Original model: people who are depressed give up even when they can do something about bad things that happen to them. Blending issues of control and optimism because they are related to each other. Study: rodin and langer - control in nursing home.
