The need to predict and control under conditions of threat.

The article focuses on the need to predict and control under conditions of threat. This experiment investigated the effects of varying degrees of certainty and control under conditions of threat. Thirty Ss gave their preferences for and anxiety ratings of a number of situations. The situations differed according to whether or not S was in control of the application of a shock and whether he could predict the shock or could not, the latter being due either to a lack of information or to inconsistent information. S-control of the application of the shock was found to be less anxiety arousing than and preferable to E-control. The results for the beginning of the experiment and for the experiment as a whole supported the hypothesis that predictability of a threatening stimulus is preferable to and less anxiety arousing than unpredictability. This is true even when predictability does not result in escape, avoidance, or termination of the situation. With predictability, conflict is reduced, psychological and physical preparations are at an optimum, and surprise is avoided.