Langer And Rodin (1976) Aims And Context

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Control refers to the extent to which an individual feels able to direct or regulate his or her own behaviour. An individual may feel controlled by other forces
(internal bodily processes or external agents), or may feel in control, i.e. self-directing and responsible. Perceived control may be more important than actual control.

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Study 1 Stotland and Blumenthal (1964) showed that students who were allowed to choose the order in which to take a series of ability tests were less anxious (as measured by sweatiness, an indicator of activity of the autonomic nervous system) than those given the tests in a predetermined order. This research demonstrates that our perceived ability to exert some degree of control over our environment may reduce our bodys stress response, with is better for our health and well being.

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Study 2 Ferrare (1962) presented some startling data from his observations of geriatric patients. He questioned a number of individuals, and found 17 who said they did not have any alternative other than to move to a specific old peoples home. Of these individuals, eight had died within four weeks of taking up residence, and a further eight had died within 10 weeks residence. All of these deaths were classified as unexpected.

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Although we have to be careful as with this research there was no control group and we cannot be certain that these deaths may not have occurred if the patients had had their own choice in where to live, the findings suggest that having the ability to control something major like where we live can have a significant effect on our well being, especially if we are older individuals.

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Aim

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Langer and Rodin aimed to investigate the effects of enhanced personal responsibility and choice in a group of nursing home patients. They specifically wanted to see whether increased control has generalised beneficial effects, and whether physical and mental alertness, activity, sociability and general satisfaction are all affected. They als o wished to see whether the direct experience of personal responsibility would be generalised such that those participants who had greater control in specific situations generalised this to other aspects of their lives.