Despite the robust link between dispositional optimism and well-being across the lifespan, the developmental origins of dispositional optimism are unknown. Understanding the pathways that lead to greater optimism during the transition from adolescence into young adulthood may be important given that this stage of the life course involves the…

Study aim: To determine and evaluate the spectrum of sport motivation of young adults. Material and methods: A group of 600 subjects, aged 17-19 years, participated in the study. An "ad hoc" questionnaire was applied to assess the 4 motivational factors: competition and success-oriented motivation, external accommodation, physical…

Subjects who reported that their parents used more punishing- and controlling-type behaviors were found to have greater expectations of control by powerful others, while subjects who viewed their parents as using unpredictable standards had stronger chance orientations. (ST)

It was predicted and found that social desirability was a significant mediator of locus of control-achievement relation for females. Results were interpreted within a cultural role model theory. (ST)

The personality constructs of self-esteem, self-reinforcement, and locus of control were found to be related in a sample of college students. (ST)

The relationship of identity status to ego development and locus of control in college women was examined. Identity statuses did not differ significantly in self-reported locus of control, but did differ on the "depth" measure of ego development. Identity achievers were more advanced in ego development. (Author/GK)

A comparison of identity status, locus of control, and ego stage development was completed using 294 college students. Identity achievement students were found to be more advanced in their ego stage development and level of internality, while diffusion students were less advanced. No evidence was found for intraindividual development. (Author/RD)

Five personality scales administered as part of a larger study of personality correlates of children with articulation errors resulted in descriptive statistics on grade by sex samples, school effects, test-retest coefficients, and intercorrelations. (Author/KM)

Retrospective reports on stressful life events and a measure of internal-external locus of control orientation were analyzed. Findings indicated (a) affectively significant, recalled life stresses (preschool) were related to strong external control orientation in adulthood; and (b) recalled positive life stresses tended to be related to strong…

Discusses the effects of cooperative versus competitive educational environments, and reports a study investigating relationships between this environmental dimension and the locus of control personality variable. (DP)

A total of 141 staff at residential summer camps and 31 university students attending summer school completed personality measures at the beginning of their summer experiences and 8 weeks later. No significant differences were found between groups, although camp staff shifted somewhat toward androgyny and internal locus of control. (SV)

The authors provide in this study a paradigm for the systematic investigation of autonomy in education by reviewing the thinking and research on autonomy in philosophy, education, and psychology, all of which define, analyze and value autonomy in different ways. Significant issues surrounding autonomy and strategies for dealing with them are…

Examined whether performance on scales reflecting problem-solving dimensions of personality could predict ego-strength in college students (n=348). Findings did not support statistically significant relationship between all problem-solving scales and ego-strength. Individually, evidence supported hypothesis that ego-strength can be predicted from…

Investigates the validity of a semiprojective measure of "engagement" with respect to the differential effects of family size. Engagement style refers to the perception one has of oneself as either doing (agent) or being done to (patient). Subjects were 51 male college students ranging in age from 18 to 26 years. (SS)

Self-evaluation is thought to play a major role in personality and motivation. Preliminary experience with success or failure, levels of aspiration, attributions for performance, and locus of control may all be interrelated factors in human motivation. After receiving success, failure, or no feedback on a concept formation task, subjects (N=90)…