The reduction of anxiety as a result of the expectation of making a choice.

Abstract

Subjects were led to believe that they would take a series of tests measuring important abilities. Half of the subjects were told that they would have full freedom to take the tests in any order they wished. The other half were told to take the tests in a specific order. Both groups were instructed that the order of tests would not make any difference in their total scores. Subjects did not actually take the tests. Their anxiety was measured by palmar sweating. Subjects who had no choice of order of tests increased in anxiety, while those who had choice did not change. This difference was greater for later born children than for first-born and only children.

When service fails: The role of the salesperson and the customer

“…By inducing a higher level of customer perceived control, salespeople may be able to increase customer satis-faction with the service recovery and hence raise customer evaluations of the social interaction. In fact, psychologists have demonstrated that more perceived control can lessen people's negative feelings (e.g., anxiousness) toward unpleasant experiences (Averill, 1973;Glass & Singer, 1972;Haggard, 1943;Hui & Bateson, 1991;Langer & Rodin, 1976;Mills & Krantz, 1979;Staub, Tursky, & Schwartz, 1971;Stotland & Blumenthal, 1964;Wortman, 1975). Lefcourt (1973, p. 424) therefore concludes that "the sense of control .…”

Perceiving Control Over Aversive and Fearful Events Can Alter How We Experience Those Events: An Investigation of Time Perception in Spider-Fearful Individuals

“…A feeling of control over an external stressor has substantial beneficial effects on the period preceding the occurrence of the external stressor (Stotland and Blumenthal, 1964; Geer et al, 1970; Geer and Maisel, 1972; Gatchel and Proctor, 1976). For instance, participants that were provided with a feeling of control showed decreased physiological arousal and reported less discomfort and less anxiety compared to participants that were not given a feeling of control in the period preceding the administration of a painful stimulation (e.g., electric shocks, loud tones, Geer et al, 1970; Gatchel and Proctor, 1976), the presentation of high-arousing negative images (Geer and Maisel, 1972), and the administration of a series of tests (Stotland and Blumenthal, 1964).…”

“…For instance, participants that were provided with a feeling of control showed decreased physiological arousal and reported less discomfort and less anxiety compared to participants that were not given a feeling of control in the period preceding the administration of a painful stimulation (e.g., electric shocks, loud tones, Geer et al, 1970; Gatchel and Proctor, 1976), the presentation of high-arousing negative images (Geer and Maisel, 1972), and the administration of a series of tests (Stotland and Blumenthal, 1964). See Thompson (1981) for a review of different methods used to study the effects of perceived control on aversive stimulation.…”

“…It is important to note that while the feeling of control seems to have a strong influence on the period preceding the aversive event, there are conflicting results as to whether it can actually alter the perception of the aversive event itself: both increases and decreases in physiological arousal in response to the aversive event have been found when control was increased (e.g., Corah and Boffa, 1970; Geer et al, 1970; Geer and Maisel, 1972; Gatchel and Proctor, 1976) and no benefit has been observed in the overall estimation of pain and stress (e.g., Pervin, 1963; Stotland and Blumenthal, 1964; Glass et al, 1969). That said, participants that are given a feeling of control over a painful stimulus are willing to endure more painful stimulation and show higher pain tolerance than those deprived of a sense of control (e.g., Glass et al, 1969).…”

Effects of decision‐making on reactions to an evaluational stressor

“…Residents' self-ratings, nurses' ratings and behavioral measures showed that the residents given choices were more active and happier than those in the comparison group. Stotland and Blumenthal (1964) conducted a laboratory experiment to study the effect of decision-making on anticipatory anxiety. The subjects were told that they would take a number of important ability tests.…”