Parents, Children and Sense of Control

Abstract

To the extent that people believe that their own actions can bring about a valued outcome, they are said to have a ?sense of control?. This is a key factor in understanding why people act as they do. When individuals feel that their actions can make a difference to important aspects of their lives, they are motivated to take action. If, on the other hand, they feel that their actions do not make a difference, there is little incentive to act. To what extent has the sense of control of adult children been affected by that of their parents? This question is addressed in a recent article.