Examines three major reasons why individuals shirk responsibility: feelings of powerlessness (external locus of control), belief in a systems world (society as self-regulating balance of objective forces), and consequences of extreme introversion or extraversion. Discusses the role of education in fostering development of student attitudes and…

Examines the responses to the Trauma Symptom Checklist (TSC) of college women (n=654) sexually abused as children, sexually assaulted as adults, sexually assaulted as children and adults, and nonabused. Results support the validity of the TSC as a measure of sexual abuse trauma and point to family patterns associated with prolonged symptomatology.…

Widows of varying ages (n=246) in urban Israel were investigated to examine the effects of widowhood-related needs along the life cycle and variables hypothesized to be related to it. Findings support previous research regarding the role of locus of control as a support mobilizer. Discusses importance of personal as well as environmental resources…

Researchers developed a profile of health promoting adults by surveying 830 health promoting individuals. Results highlighted psychosocial variables most strongly associated with health promoting behavior: total self-concept, physical self, moral-ethical self, self-satisfaction, behavior, and chance health locus of control. Demographic variables…

Study determined whether student teachers' self-talk differentially related to personality characteristics of locus of control and self-esteem. Subjects (n=69) recorded self-talk and completed personality assessments. They mainly engaged in negative, child-oriented, external self-talk. Those with high self-esteem and internal locus of control used…

A survey was administered assessing knowledge of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) among 34 learning-disabled and 44 nondisabled high school students. Although results found no differences in AIDS awareness between groups, learning-disabled participants reported feeling less in control of exposure to AIDS and indicated less behavioral…

Investigated relationship between leadership behavior and self-esteem, locus of control, family structure, and career goals of high school student leaders (n=79) and nonleaders (n=124). Leaders tended to have higher internal locus of control, to live in two-parent family, and to have more prestigious career goals. Found no significant difference…

Presents key themes from expanding literature on resilience, drawing from both psychological research and narratives of survivors. Focuses on Kauai study, landmark 30-year longitudinal study on resilience in 698 infants. Also examines survivors of child abuse, distinguishes between unhealthy and healthy resilience, discusses issues of separation…

This study found that, compared to nonmaltreated children, 19 children (ages 8-13) who had been physically and emotionally abused by their parents showed greater depressive symptomatology, including feelings of sadness, lower self-esteem and self-worth, and perceived lack of control over aversive events (helplessness). (Author/JDD)

Measures of career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE), occupational self-efficacy, locus of control, and career salience and indecision were administered to 203 female and 204 male college students. CDMSE was found to be the only significant predictor of vocational indecision. No relationship was observed between CDMSE and career salience nor…

Comparison of 502 former and 148 active participants in a prevocational intervention for at-risk students and 157 at-risk nonparticipants found (1) comparable dropout rates, self-concept scores, and reading and math achievement; (2) decline in participants' grades and attendance after the program; and (3) higher degrees of internality in cognitive…

Two studies compared primary and secondary control beliefs of adolescents living in modern cultures (Germans, North Americans, Jewish Israelis) with those of adolescents in cultures undergoing a transition to modernity (Malaysians, Israeli Druzes). Found that adolescents from transitional cultures endorsed secondary control beliefs to a greater…

Examines 178 gifted Texas children to determine differences in their health locus of control. Results provide evidence that gifted children, in general, may be less prone to adolescent health-risk behaviors than nongifted children. Findings suggest revision in both school health curricula and instructional practices for gifted children. (GLR)

Examined age differences in attributions for self-reported successes and failures in important and daily situations. Attributions and affects were collected from 61 young, 21 middle-aged, and 15 older adults. Middle-aged and older adults were more likely than young adults to attribute failure to external causes and to describe more social than…

This commentary examines at-risk students who are seen as in danger of losing control of their lives because of external loci of control and society's lack of coherent self-control. At-risk students are considered to be suitable candidates for intervention as much as students with more conventional disabilities. (PB)