Multidimensionality of locus of control and the Eysenck Personality Inventory.

Abstract

Kleiber, Veldman, and Menaker (1973) have repotted the isolation of three factors from Rotter's locus of control scale: Disbelief in Luck or Chance (Factor I ) , System Modifiability (11). and Individual Responsibility for Failure (111). Since previous studies have reported an inverse relationship between an internal locus of control orientation and neurotic symptoms (Lichtenstein & Kentzer, 1967; Platt, Pometanz, & Eisenman, 1971) and since Rotter (1966) has suEgested that internal subjects are, in general, better adjusted than are external ones, the present study determined whether these individual locus of control factors are differentially implicated with neurotic symptoms. Sixty-eight college students were given the Eysenck Personality Inventory (Form A) and the Rotter Locus of Control scale as separate questionnaires. The locus of control scale items were separated from their original pairings and were arranged randomly on the question sheet. These items were responded to in a format, unlike the six-point Likert format used by Kleiber, ec al. (1973). Eysenck's Extraversion scale correlated -.OW with Factor I, .050 with Factor 11. and .093 with Factor 111; none of these correlations are significant. Eysenck's Neuroticism scale correlated -.222 with Factor I, -.318 with Faaor I1 ( p < .02), and -.I15 with Factor 111. These results suggest that the previously reported relationship between locus of control and neurotic tendencies may be due to neurotics having greater likelihood of discounting notions that they have personal control over political, social, and economic systems and hence are more likely to regard themselves as pawns in the hands of institutions. In this study, the following correlations were observed between individual factors of locus of control (as reported by Kleiber, et al., 1973) : 1-11 ( r = .381, p < .01), 1-111 ( r = .259, p < .05), and 11-111 ( r = .239, n.s.). These results suggest that there is some overlap among these factors when a true-false rather than the Likert format of answering is used.