Our research examines both perceived control, or the degree of influence people believe they have and desired control, or the amount they wish to have. We focus on control discrepancies, the gap between these two perceptions, as a key predictor of psychological adjustment and well-being. By understanding when and why these discrepancies emerge, we shed light on how mismatches between perceived and desired control shape stress, motivation, and adaptive functioning across different life domains.

Illustrative work from our lab on this topic:

Burrow, A. L. (2023). Beyond finding purpose: Motivating a translational science of purpose acquisition. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(12), 6091. [link]