Information-generated Influence as a Function of Locus-of-Control Patterns in Children

Abstract

WOLK, STEPHEN, and ELIOT, JOHN. Information-generated Influence as a Function of Locus-ofControl Patterns in Children. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1974, 45, 928-934. The primary focus of this paper was the effect of divergent assumption of personal responsibility for positive and negative events (I+ and I-) upon influence exerted by communication. 3 independent samples comprising 341 fourthand sixth-grade children, who were administered the Intellectual Achievement Responsibility (IAR) Questionnaire and were classified as having unbalanced (I + ! I-) or balanced (I+ = I-) belief patterns, were presented either a narrated or nonnarrated short film. How the children viewed and judged the content of the film (measured by a Likert-type scale) represented the index of information-generated influence. Results indicated children with unbalanced patterns were more easily influenced, with the amount of influence relatively constant across the 2 conditions of directness of communication. Subjects with balanced patterns, while less influenced, experienced some increase when communication was more direct. Simple linear relationships between overall expectancy for control and influence were absent, suggesting some complexity of the locus-of-control variable to be researched.