Explains classroom technique to demonstrate to college students that human behavior is at least partially determined by the environment, and thus can be predicted and controlled. Describes how students read one prediction which correctly anticipates usual student behavior, are given a simple request by the instructor, and then read second…

This study compared the treatment, pretest, and treatment by pretest interaction effects on reports of alcohol use, misuse, and measures of awareness of curriculum content, susceptibility to peer pressure, self-esteem, and health locus of control in the context of an elementary school alcohol misuse prevention project. (JOW)

Investigates the perceived balance of control of negative caregiving outcomes in 2 studies involving 40 undergraduates and 40 mothers in counseling at a child abuse agency. Findings indicate that low perceived control is a potentially important moderator of negative affect in response to difficult children. (RJC)

Examined influence of protege characteristics, gender composition of mentoring relationship, quality of relationship, and amount of time protege spent with mentor on career and psychosocial benefits of protege. Proteges (N=139), educators who aspired to attain administrative positions, were assigned to mentors. Results showed that protege gender,…

Motivationally distinct forms of child compliance, mutually positive affect, and maternal control were observed as correlates of internalization in 103 mother-toddler dyads. Found that children who shared positive affect with their mothers showed a high level of committed compliance and were also more internalized. Maternal "Do's" appeared more…

Examined differences between high school students who were at risk for school failure and control group of peers. Statistically significant differences were found with respect to locus of control, self-concept, and personal styles of learning. Implications focused upon approaches and suggestions regarding use of such knowledge in facilitating…

Intermediate-grade gifted students (n=139) who participated in the Future Problem Solving Program were compared to other gifted or average ability students. Participants were found to be interested in more global issues than nonparticipants and were more positive about their control over the future. (Author/JDD)

Examines a study of the effects of sociocultural change on an individual's beliefs concerning control over personal and political events. Explains that Polish students' political control beliefs significantly shifted from external sources (the government) to internal sources (the individual) after democratization of their country. Reports that…

Agrees with Callister and Dunne's observations concerning computers and teacher disempowerment. However, computers can become electronic doorways allowing people easy access to whatever they want to do. Rather than criticize teachers' attempts to use technology, we must help teachers learn by providing them with computers and training. Only then…

Discussion of virtual reality (VR) focuses on research and development being carried out at NYNEX to solve business problems. Component technologies are described; design decisions are considered, including interactivity, connectivity, and locus of control; potential perils of VR are discussed, including user dissociation; and areas of promise are…

Cross-sectional investigation compared worry and its correlates in 89 older adults and 74 college students. Older adults expressed significantly fewer worries than did students about finances and social events. Both groups were equally worried about health issues. For both groups, external locus of control was associated with higher worry scores.…

Assessed differences among self-esteem, locus of control, and career aspirations of 30 college-age siblings of individuals with disabilities (sibling-Ds) and 30 classmates with nondisabled siblings (sibling-Ns). Although sibling-Ds and sibling-Ns reported similar levels of self-esteem, sibling-Ds demonstrated significantly higher levels of…

Responds to case of Sondra presented in Career Development Quarterly (September 1990). Presents evidence for Sondra's persistent anxiety, shifting sense of self, and external locus of control and suggests her career indecision is a chronic problem. Recommends career-focused psychotherapy for Sondra. (PVV)

Assessed third and fifth graders' feelings of loneliness, social anxiety, and social avoidance and their attributions for social outcomes. Compared with peers, rejected children reported more loneliness and were more likely to attribute relationship failures to external causes. Among socially distressed children, attribution patterns varied with…

Many young adolescent students are frustrated, reluctant learners that seem resigned to helplessness and other self-defeating behaviors. Telling students to try harder is not particularly effective. This article offers a goal-setting strategy to help youngsters become failure-avoiding, instead of failure-accepting, students. Teachers help students…