The Trap of Believing You Are In Control

We often overestimate our influence over random events. This bias tricks people into believing they can sway luck, explaining why gamblers feel more confident if they roll the dice themselves rather than letting others do it.

Named by psychologist Ellen Langer, this bias suggests our brains crave agency even in entirely unpredictable situations. When we perform a ritual or make a choice, we mistakenly feel we have impacted the outcome. It explains why people fear flying less when they are the pilots or why lottery players prefer picking their own numbers. This cognitive shortcut is a core reason why humans struggle to accept the role of pure chance in their lives.