In psychology, what is illusion of control?

This refers to a form of cognitive bias that causes people to overestimate the extent of their control over external events. It often leads people to believe that they can influence things or events that are actually well beyond their direct influence. The phenomenon is named after a 1975 paper by American psychologist Ellen Langer. The illusion of control is prevalent among gamblers who believe that certain tricks or repeated routines can influence the outcome of bets even though bets are simply chance events influenced mostly just by luck. It can lead to overoptimism about the future and disappointment.

Source: The Hindu, 5/11/2018