Never run a changing system: Action-effect contingency shapes prospective agency

Sense of agency in social hierarchies.

“…We thus expected positive action outcomes (i.e., successful investments) to go along with higher sense of agency, sense of responsibility, and HWO than negative or neutral action outcomes independently of whether an agent acts as supervisor or subordinate (Experiments 1–3).How does a lack of actual control affect sense of agency and HWO, and can the power to veto decisions made on higher levels reinstate perceived control? As lack of actual control has been shown to reduce sense of agency (e.g., Schwarz et al, 2022; van der Weiden et al, 2011), we expect similarly that actual control is reflected in sense of agency measures here, as well as in sense of responsibility, and HWO (Experiments 1–2). Likewise, we expected even a slight reinstatement of power (i.e., control) through veto options to increase sense of agency, sense of responsibility, and HWO (Experiments 2–3).If veto power indeed affects sense of agency, is this effect purely situational or sustained?…”

“…How does a lack of actual control affect sense of agency and HWO, and can the power to veto decisions made on higher levels reinstate perceived control? As lack of actual control has been shown to reduce sense of agency (e.g., Schwarz et al, 2022; van der Weiden et al, 2011), we expect similarly that actual control is reflected in sense of agency measures here, as well as in sense of responsibility, and HWO (Experiments 1–2). Likewise, we expected even a slight reinstatement of power (i.e., control) through veto options to increase sense of agency, sense of responsibility, and HWO (Experiments 2–3).…”

“…4As an exploratory analysis, we also included personality questionnaires in the first experiment, that is, the Objectification scale (Gruenfeld et al, 2008) as well as the NEO Five-Factor-Inventory (Costa & McCrae, 1992) for an analysis of individual factors potentially affecting sense of agency, sense of responsibility, and happiness with outcome (but see Schwarz et al, 2022, for a more thorough study of this research question). This analysis is presented in the .…”

The value of control

“…As our results indicate, it might not only be important that individuals indeed are in charge of a situation but also that they perceive sufficient control. indicate a small but consistent effect of personality constructs on the sense of agency, especially in situations of uncertainty (Schwarz et al, 2022). That is, higher levels of openness and extraversion were positively correlated to perceived control, while the opposite relation was found for neuroticism.…”

“…Nevertheless, one should not jump to the conclusion that objective and perceived control are necessarily identical. While actual control is an important predictor of perceived control, previous evidence indicates that both deviate in specific circumstances, for example, in situations of outcome uncertainty or of particular personal relevance (see, e.g., Reis et al, 2022, andSchwarz et al, 2022, for the importance of personal and situational factors on subjective agency). Instead, the present finding could suggest a complex decision process based on more aspects than mere perceived control.…”