The Limits of Perceived Control:  Novel Task-Based Measures of Control under Effort and in Anhedonia

Previous research presents a paradox in relation to the value of exerting personal control such that personal control is generally reinforcing, but its value may also be limited in some individuals and under certain circumstances. Across two studies, this dissertation takes a step towards exploring the limitations of perceived control at the process-level by manipulating perceived control via the provision of choice. Manuscript 1 examined limitations of perceived control in the context of effort costs and found that actual control, but not illusory control, may be necessary to enhance motivation in the context of physical effort, suggesting that perceived control may be limited in the context of effort. Manuscript 2 examined limitations of perceived control in relation to self-reported symptoms of anhedonia and found that responsivity to personal control was diminished in those with higher levels of anhedonia. Together these studies examined factors associated with limitations in appetitive personal control and suggest avenues for future research exploring perceived control processes and how they may interface with reward processes, which has potential implications for developing interventions to alleviate reward-related deficits found in anhedonia.