This looks like a case of erroneously inferring causation from correlation. If there is variance in the degree to which people are impeded by factors outside th

This looks like a case of erroneously inferring causation from correlation. If there is variance in the degree to which people are impeded by factors outside their control, then all that is required to observe such an association is that people be aware of such impediments. Beliefs need not have a causal role.