The Purpose in Life (PIL) measures more than absence of depression and internalized perceived locus of psychological reinforcement. Depressed external individuals are more identifiable from their existential malaise or emptyness. The experience of reinforcement for being in the world is beyond their control. (Author)

Patients high in alientation and distrust may be poor compliers. Because only the somatic concern dimension predicted outcome, a single scale that measures this characteristic may be sufficient for effective identification of the potential good v poor responders to conservative treatment of low back pain. (Author)

In a study using 944 fourth and fifth graders, locus of control and depression were positively related. Three measures of achievement were negatively related to both external locus of control and depression. The negative relationship also held for intelligence quotient, although it was not as strong. (Author/GDC)

Recently published results of a major personality study on probated felons furnish some directions for case-load treatment and supervision. Probation programing guidelines based on these results--the specific personality constructs of manipulation, self-control, and anxiety in probated felons--could enhance probation programing effectiveness.…

Investigated were factors that potentially influence the environmental values of secondary school students in a western New York School district. The four variables studied were concern for the environment, locus of control, knowledge about the environment, and sources of environmental information. (WB)

Internal-external control affects hourly wages independent of other factors such as educational attainment, labor market experience, race, and collective bargaining affiliation. Internal-external locus of control is affected by labor market success, race, and city size. (Author)

Results of a study exploring the relationship of locus of control, self-esteem, and field independence with reading and math achievement of Mexican American and Anglo American elementary school children did not support presumed cultural differences of personality variables, but did suggest a differing relationship between personality variables and…

Results of four hypotheses are discussed. (BE)

The affective development of 499 children in grades 3 through 12 was assessed through the use of instruments measuring self-esteem, locus of control and achievement motivation. (CM)

Students enrolled in an introductory biology course were tested to measure prior knowledge and locus of control; data were used to examine trends in achievement. Findings suggest relative importance of prior knowledge and relative insignificance of locus of control in learning biology concepts at the college level. (DS)

The present study explored the interaction of effects of classroom style and locus of control on students' satisfaction, rather than students' achievement, in a college setting. Data suggest that locus of control, as measured by the Rotter Internal-External Scale, appears to offer promise as a psychological trait associated with students'…

Contrary to popular assumptions, divorce backgrounds were not predictive of lower scores on measures of ego development, locus of control, and identity achievement. (Author)

Results indicated that effectiveness of attribution therapy depended on the timing of the intervention and the locus of control orientation of the participant. Internals evidenced greater self-acceptance when intervention occurred prior to negative evaluation. Externals' ratings of self-evaluation were not influenced. (Author/BEF)

Results showed that the adolescents with internal locus of control performed significantly better in the low structure reinforcement condition, while the adolescents with external locus of control performed significantly better in the high structure reinforcement condition. (Author)