Effects on performance of perceived control over noxious noise.

In a noisy setting, 20 male and 20 female college students worked at anagrams and proofreading to reduce their sensitivity to the adverse effects of noise. Ss were randomly assigned before training to a perceived own-control- or no-control-over-noise condition and to a constant or increasing rate-of-exposure-to-noise condition. All Ss heard noxious noise punctuated by silence while they worked. Those who believed their rapid button pressing produced the silence improved significantly at proofreading but not at anagrams. Rate of exposure did not affect training. Conditions governing the contributions of perceived environment controlling responses to behavior rehearsal are discussed. (31 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)