Abstract
Undergraduate student volunteers either were given a choice of coping strategies or were assigned to a coping strategy which was used to help them tolerate the cold pressor. Subjects who were given a choice of coping strategies reported their strategy to be more credible and perceived a greater sense of control than subjects who were not given a choice. Improved pain tolerance, however, did not result directly from being given a choice. Increases in pain tolerance depended on locus of control. Subjects who had a high internal health locus of control reported a greater strength of self-efficacy and demonstrated increased pain tolerance following a choice of strategies. In comparison, subjects who reported a more external health locus of control did not benefit from receiving a choice. This study has implications for our understanding of the role of choice in therapy and for improving the effectiveness of our interventions with individuals.
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Rokke, P.D., Absi, M.A., Lall, R. et al. When does a choice of coping strategies help? The interaction of choice and locus of control. J Behav Med 14, 491–504 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00845106
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00845106