This book is a primer for practitioners and researchers striving to incorporate the assessment of human strengths, resources, and fulfillment into their work. Contributors examine the scientific underpinnings and practical applications of measures of hope, optimism, self-efficacy, problem-solving, locus of control, creativity, wisdom, courage,…

The most commonly used measures of locus of control are Rotter's Internality-Externality Scale (I-E) and Nowicki and Strickland's Internality-Externality Scale (NSIE). A reliability generalization study is conducted to explore variability in I-E and NSIE score reliability. Studies are coded for aspects of the scales used (number of response…

Investigates the relationship between locus of control and anxiety in two studies. Hypothesized that internal subjects show more state-anxiety than external subjects in luck situations, whereas externals show more state-anxiety under ability situations. Results confirm findings from other cultures and indicate differences between adults and…

Examined the psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) Scales with chronic cigarette smokers (N=146). Results showed that health locus of control orientation was bidimensional, with domains defined by the Internal and Powerful Others measures. (Author/JAC)

Vocational psychology has recently begun examining the career development of marginalized and underrepresented populations. Social cognitive career theory provides a theoretical understanding of how cultural differences, resources, and barriers may affect the vocational choices and actions of individuals from minority populations. Contextual…

The differences between 27 emotionally disturbed/behavior disordered (ED/BD) 9-to-13-year-old elementary students and 27 of their peers on measures of perception of locus of control (LOC) were investigated. The two groups were matched on sex, race, and age. No differences were found between the groups. (Author/BN)

Previous research has investigated the role of personal faith and locus of control in attribution. To expand these investigations to include the role of Quest faith (a personal struggle to understand), 154 undergraduates (57 males, 97 females) participated in a study. Participants were those who ranked themselves at least 4 out of 7 on a…

Uses the construct of generalized expectancies for locus of control as a model of the importance of broad theory and training in theory construction and evaluation in psychology. Discusses the characteristics that contribute to the construct's heuristic value and also discusses problems with the criteria for the publication of psychological…

All chronic illnesses represent assaults on multiple areas of functioning, not just the body. To examine the association between painful chronic illnesses and depression from a cognitive-behavioral perspective, 100 patients of the Pain Management Program at the West Haven, Connecticut Veterans Administration Hospital (78% males) completed a…

Perceived locus of causality is an important factor in assessing the impact of prior success or failure on later performance. In order to examine the effects of internal (self) versus external (partner) attributions on subsequent performance, two studies were conducted. In the first study 80 female undergradutes worked on a series of mazes with an…

Locus of control is fairly stable over time but does change as a result of natural events, such as the acquisition of college education. Previous research found this to be so in a study of the high school class of 1972. This investigation asked whether a model of stability and change in locus of control had changed since the benchmark study of the…

In an attempt to replicate an earlier study of attribution of responsibility (Experiment 2 of Samuel et. al, 1981), this research utilized a case study describing an 18-year-old named Johnny who tripped and fell while shoplifting a rifle from a sporting goods store; the gun fired, inflicting either minor or critical injuries on a nearby customer.…

Previous research suggests that belief in the uncontrollability of a situation results in maladaptive attempts to control outcomes; perceptions of cancer's uncontrollability may result in negative attitudes toward the disease and toward patients. To test this theory 160 college students read and responded to a paragraph describing a disease…

Locus of control is a personality trait that influences human behavior in many situations. Internal-external control reactions to a persuasive message and the recall of the message were examined in two studies. In the first study, 35 undergraduate students' locus of control was measured using Duttweiler's Internal Control Measure. On the basis of…

Proposes a framework which builds on theories of subjective expectations and which combines a new model of beliefs about control with a process model of intentional action. Applications to the study of control beliefs on cognitive performance are outlined. (RH)