On my last post of the influential mind, I talked about agency and how important it is for us, humans. Nevertheless, I also talk about how sometimes letting go can be beneficial since any one person cannot be an expert in all fields. On this post I will talk about how our want of control or agency is so deeply rooted in us that it actually has some very unexpected consequences.
Giving up control can be really hard. It can be the source of bad financial decisions or even phobias. Let me ask you a question. What sector of society is the one that would have the least sense of agency? A clue, if you are lucky enough, you will become part of this group. It is the elderly. As we grow old, our ability to control ourselves and our environments declines. It can start by retiring, followed by a deterioration of our bodies and minds, and culminating with your presence in a nursing home. By then you would have lost almost any decision making over your life and how you live it. Even the simplest of decisions like when to eat, what to eat, or how to spend your leisure time will be taken for you. Everyday tasks would be performed for you such as driving, cooking, and washing your clothes.
Leaving the elderly aside for a second, let me tell you about something called the IKEA effect. Have you ever bought a piece of furniture from IKEA? Sometimes it can be a hassle but once you are done putting it together, you feel some sense of accomplishment. On top of that, even if you end up with extra pieces or the shelf that you put together ends up being a bit crooked, you will like it more than the exact same shelf that a friend of yours put together. Why? Because we tend to give more value to things when we put work or effort towards it. This is called the IKEA effect.
If you are a parent, you might give your children more responsibilities. At work, employees can be made to have increased involvement in decision-making processes to enhance their motivation and satisfaction. If you are in a relationship, it might help to make sure you are giving your partner a decent say in how you lead your lives as a couple. What is interesting is that the sense of control need only be that - a perception.
With the IKEA effect on mind, and trying to target the social group with the least agency, the elderly, Rodin and Langer executed a very well thought experiment. They approached a nursing home and were allowed to perform their experiment. The idea was simple, they assessed the people on happiness and health. Then they divided the home into two floors. One floor was told that they would do everything for themselves and the other was told that they would be completely taken care of. Both groups were also given a plant each. On the one hand the "agency" group was to water it themselves while the "no agency" group would have a person coming in to water the plant. After three weeks, Rodin and Langer assessed once again the people's happiness and health. The "agency" group was the happiest and participated in the greatest number of activities. On top of that, eighteen months later, the "agency" group was healthier than the "no agency" group.
This is why we put so much effort into keeping control of ourselves and our surroundings. This want is so deeply rooted in us that it makes us happier and healthier in the long run. To a certain degree, it makes sense since a sense of control reduces fear, anxiety, and stress. On the other hand, sometimes better outcomes are achieved if we let go, but it can be really hard to do so. My hope is that with understanding this, we will be able to make better decisions and be more conscious of our emotions, therefore not letting them drive us in irrational ways.
What do you think? I'd like to hear your opinions.
If you want to check out other thoughts that this awesome book has evoked, click on these past posts:
- The Influential Mind Made Me Think #1: Disinformation That The Information Era Has Created
- The Influential Mind Made Me Think #2: The Power Of Language And Ideas
- The Influential Mind Made Me Think #3: On The Facebook Scandal, Data Usage, And The Spreading Of Emotions
- The Influential Mind Made Me Think #4: On The Irrationality of Phobias
- The Influential Mind Made Me Think #5: On Agency And The Hardship Of Financial Decisions
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