When do they push the right buttons?

Sindhuja Sankaran
Sai University, Chennai, India
Received 2 April 2023, Revised 20 May 2023, Accepted 15 June 2023, Available online 28 June 2023, Version of Record 28 June 2023.
Highlights

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Certainty levels determined with a causal learning paradigm.

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Scheduled certainty levels were related to uncertainty perceptions.

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High NFC engaged in effortful means to cope with uncertainty.

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Effortful means mediated the relationship between NFC and perceived control.

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.

Introduction

In our everyday lives, we are often engaged in making decisions, inferring causes for certain events and behaviours or pursuing important goals. These psychological processes more often than not are accompanied by a degree of uncertainty which can sometimes be an unpleasant experience. Kruglanski and colleagues (Ford & Kruglanski, 1995; Kruglanski et al., 2009; Kruglanski & Webster, 1996) argued that this uncertainty would increase the motivation to reduce it by finding an answer on the issue at hand through rapid formulation of a hypothesis and its validation, as opposed to enduring further ambiguity (Kruglanski & Webster, 1996). This motivational tendency is termed Need for Cognitive Closure (NFC). For over forty years researchers intensively examined the way high in NFC people alleviate potential distress of uncertainty (for overview see Roets et al., 2015). As a result of coping with uncertainty, research has shown that high NFC individuals make more stereotypical judgments (e.g., Dijksterhuis et al., 1996), prefer consistent over inconsistent images (Gocłowska et al., 2017), prefer religious fundamentalists (Brandt & Reyna, 2010; Kossowska et al., 2016) and endorse conservative beliefs (Kossowska & Hiel, 2003). Another way people tend to cope with uncertainty is by maintaining or restoring one’s personal control (Fritsche et al., 2013; Langer, 1975). While Kossowska and colleagues (2017) theoretically discussed the potential role of perceived control in dealing with uncertainty, there is very little and close to no empirical work showing this effect which our present research aims to establish.
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