Internal Locus Of Control Orientation Research Articles

Financial Risk Tolerance, Sensation Seeking, and Locus of Control Among Pre-Retiree Baby Boomers

Financial risk tolerance is an important personal characteristic that is widely used by financial professionals to guide the development and presentation of client-centered recommendations. As more baby boomers enter retirement, research on how these individuals perceive their willingness to take financial risks has gained importance, particularly as the focus of investment portfolios changes from capital accumulation to capital preservation in retirement. This study examined the role of sensation seeking and locus of control on financial risk tolerance for a pre-retiree baby boomer sample using the 2014 wave of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979. Findings from three ordinary least square (OLS) regression models showed that baby boomers who were not sensation seekers, and those who displayed an external locus of control orientation were more likely to exhibit a low tolerance for financial risk. Furthermore, those who engaged in sensation-seeking behavior were more likely to have an internal locus of control orientation and a high tolerance for risk.

Reorienting Locus of Control in Individuals Who Have Offended Through Strengths-Based Interventions: Personal Agency and the Good Lives Model.

Having an external locus of control has been associated with a range of well-supported risk correlates of offending behavior. Further, individuals with an internal locus of control orientation are suggested to be more open to engaging in treatment and are also considered more likely to have successful treatment outcomes. In forensic settings, where individuals are subject to external controls and have little personal autonomy, it is important to consider what treatment approaches might be most successful in reorienting individuals’ locus of control. The Good Lives Model (GLM) proposes a strengths-based approach to the rehabilitation of individuals who have offended. Within the GLM, an external locus of control is suggested to be associated with a deficit in the primary good of agency. In this article, we will provide a brief overview of the literature on locus of control and its hypothesized role in offending behavior. We will discuss how an external locus of control orientation is related to personal agency and how strengths-based models, such as the GLM, may assist with reorienting locus of control in individuals who have offended through promoting personal agency.

It's beyond my control: The effect of locus of control orientation on disaster insurance adoption

This paper examines the effect of locus of control orientation on natural disaster insurance adoption among private homeowners in Accra, Ghana. Derived from social learning theory, the locus of control construct can be used to distinguish between individuals by the degree to which they believe they control their own destiny. At one end of the continuum are those with an external locus of control, who believe that luck, chance, fate, or powerful others determine what happens to them. At the other end are those with an internal locus of control, who believe that they can influence what happens to them. This study tests the hypothesis that homeowners with an internal locus of control orientation are more likely to purchase natural disaster insurance than those with an external locus of control. To this end, insured and uninsured homeowners in Accra completed the Internal Control Index (ICI), which measures beliefs regarding control outcomes. The results suggest that more internally oriented homeowners are more likely to be insured against extreme natural events.

Locus of Control Orientation: Parents, Peers, and Place.

An internal locus of control contributes to positive youth outcomes such as a general well-being and academic success, while also serving as a protective factor against exposure to community violence and reducing negative behaviors like violence. Despite these benefits, very little is known about antecedents of an internal locus of control orientation. Without an understanding of what factors contribute to the development of an internal locus of control, it is not clear how to best encourage its formation. This study uses data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods to examine whether various mesosystem variables (family management strategies, peer interactions, neighborhood context, and individual-level characteristics) are associated with an internal locus of control orientation among 1,076 youth ages 9-19 living in 78 Chicago neighborhoods. Study participants were Hispanic (46%), African American (34%), and White (15%), and 50% were female. The findings suggest that, while most levels of the mesosystem influence locus of control orientation, family management strategies are more prominent determinants of an internal locus of control than peers, neighborhood context, or individual characteristics. Parental supervision over the time a youth spends at home and family socioeconomic status are consistent predictors of an internal locus of control, while harsh discipline is associated with an external locus of control. The discussion examines the import of various parenting techniques in shaping an internal locus of control and considers future avenues for research to further unpack how antecedents of locus of control can vary across youth.

Early antecedents to students' expected performance

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to confirm the predictive validity of several antecedents to students' early perceptions of future performance in collegiate courses.Design/methodology/approachA non‐experimental design was used to test a proposed model based on a review of relevant literature. Students completed surveys capturing the constructs researched.FindingsStudents' internal locus of control predicted student perceptions of social integration, academic self concept and grade point average (GPA) and social integration significantly predicted academic self concept. Moreover, academic self concept significantly predicted early perceptions of expected grade beyond the student's current level of performance as measured by his/her current GPA.Research limitations/implicationsSubjects were from one academic program in one university. Also, expected performance was measured with one item, which focused on expected grade, only one aspect of performance. Other aspects of performance and outcomes such as perceived learning or satisfaction with the course could shed more light on the relationships among the constructs under studyPractical implicationsStudents with an internal locus of control orientation can better leverage self‐confidence to social and academic ends in the classroom and more readily exhibit the sustained goal‐related behaviors requisite for success during transitions to college and subsequent professional placements. Also, students who are encouraged to take personal responsibility for relationships with peers and adjust behaviors are likely to maintain and enhance the quality of these relationships.Originality/valueThe paper's results suggest that instructors who foster/reinforce students' concept of connections between choices and outcomes may be rewarded with enhanced student motivation to perform well in the course.

The role of intrinsic factors in the implementation of psychosocial interventions into routine clinical practice

Despite the efficacy, political will and numbers of mental health practitioners trained in psychosocial interventions, they remain scarcely available in routine clinical practice. External factors such as the inability of mental health organisations to develop strategies to support the use of psychosocial interventions have been implicated. This study compares data from two groups, one that had completed psychosocial intervention training (n=104) and one that had not received psychosocial intervention training (n=102). Both groups completed measures of self‐efficacy, locus of control and an application of psychosocial interventions to practice. Results showed that psychosocial intervention training significantly increased the level of self‐efficacy for using psychosocial interventions in practice. The group that had received psychosocial interventions training had lower internal locus of control orientation. Self‐efficacy was significantly related to using psychosocial interventions in practice. There is a discussion of the implications of these findings.

The Effects of Escalating Commitment on Ethical Decision-Making

Although scholars have invoked the escalation framework as a means of explaining the occurrence of numerous organizationally undesirable behaviors on the part of decision makers, to date no empirical research on the potential influences of escalating commitment on the likelihood of unethical behavior at the individual level of analysis has been reported in either the escalation or the ethical decision-making literatures. Thus, the main purpose of this project is to provide a theoretical foundation and empirical support for the contention that escalating commitment situations can induce unethical behavior in decision makers. An experimental research design utilizing a computerized investment task was administered to 155 undergraduate business majors as a means of assessing the hypotheses presented here. Results from a hierarchical logistic regression analysis found strong support for the contention that exposure to an escalation situation increases the likelihood of unethical behavior on the part of decision makers. Further, results also supported previous ethical decision-making findings by confirming the effects of locus of control (LOC) on ethical behavior. Specifically, the data indicated that individuals with an external LOC orientation were significantly more likely to select the unethical option than were individuals with an internal LOC orientation. Interestingly, support was not found for the effects of Machiavellianism or gender on ethical decision-making.

Relationships among fashion consumer groups, locus of control, boredom proneness, boredom coping and intrinsic enjoyment

AbstractFashion change agents and fashion followers differ in their need for mental stimulation. Within a context of fashion diffusion theory, this study examined the effects of locus of control and fashion consumer group on three attributes linked to mental stimulation – boredom proneness, intrinsic enjoyment, and boredom coping. For this US sample of young women, an internal locus of control orientation was associated with a higher level of fashion innovativeness and opinion leadership. Fashion change agents, with either an internal or external locus of control orientation, and fashion followers with an external locus of control orientation, were similar in their heightened ability to entertain themselves (internal stimulation). Fashion followers with an external locus of control orientation were less able to entertain themselves than the other three groups.

Multidimensional Traffic Locus of Control Scale (T-LOC): factor structure and relationship to risky driving

The aim of the present study was to develop a multidimensional instrument for measuring driver locus of control and to investigate the relationship between driver locus of control, risky driving and negative outcomes. Participants were young male ( N=216) and female ( N=132) drivers who completed a form including the newly developed Multidimensional Traffic Locus of Control Scale (T-LOC), Driver Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ), and items related to drivers’ driving records and demographics. Factor analysis resulted in construction of four T-LOC scales: “Other Drivers” (i.e. causes of accidents attributed to other drivers), “Self” (i.e. causes of accidents attributed to oneself), “Vehicle and Environment” (i.e. causes of accidents attributed to external factors), and “Fate” (i.e. causes of accidents attributed to fate or bad luck). Multiple regression analyses showed that internal locus of control orientation (Self) predicted the self-reported number of total accidents, active accidents, offences, aggressive and ordinary violations, and errors. “Vehicle and Environment” scores had a positive relationship to the number of offences and DBQ error score whereas “Other Drivers” had a negative relationship to errors. However, “Fate” score was not related to any of the dependent variables.

Locus of control and weight reduction

The objective of this study was to determine if locus of control orientation is predictive for weight loss among participants in a behaviour modification weight reduction programme. The subjects completed a locus of control questionnaire consisting of 40 questions before starting the programme and again after 1 year. Forty-one participants started the programme, 28 remained after 1 year. Their weight loss was significant ( P<0.001) and associated with an internal locus of control orientation ( P<0.05). The findings suggest that different weight reduction activities could be offered depending on the person’s locus of control orientation. Participants with an internal orientation could be offered a standard weight reduction programme. Others, with a more external locus of control orientation, could be offered an adapted programme, which also focused on and encouraged the participants’ internal orientation.

Individual differences, environmental scanning, innovation framing, and champion behavior: key predictors of project performance

Although increasing evidence points to the importance of champions for keeping product innovation ideas alive and thriving, little is known about how champions identify potential product innovation ideas, how they present these ideas to gain much needed support from key stakeholders, and their impact on innovation project performance over time. Jane M. Howell and Christine M. Shea address this knowledge gap by using measures of individual differences, environmental scanning, innovation framing and champion behavior to predict the performance of 47 product innovation projects. Champion behavior was defined as expressing confidence in the innovation, involving and motivating others to support the innovation, and persisting under adversity. Interviews with 47 champions were conducted to collect information about the innovation projects and the champions’ tendency to frame the innovation as an opportunity or threat. Survey data were obtained from three sources: 47 champions provided information on their personal characteristics (locus of control and breadth of interest) and activities (environmental scanning), 47 division managers subjectively assessed project performance at two points in time, and 237 innovation team members rated the frequency of champion behavior. The results revealed that an internal locus of control orientation was positively related to framing the innovation as an opportunity, and breadth of interest was positively related to environmental scanning. Environmental scanning of documents and framing the innovation as a threat was negatively related to champion behavior, while environmental scanning through people was positively related to champion behavior. Champion behavior positively predicted project performance over a one-year interval. Overall, the findings suggest that in scanning the environment for new ideas, the most effective source of information is the champion’s personal network of people inside and outside the organization. Also, the simple labeling of an idea as a threat appears to diminish a champion’s perceived influence and erode credibility in promoting an innovation. From the perspective of division managers, champions make a positive contribution to project performance over time, reinforcing the crucial role that champions play in new product development process.

Culture and entrepreneurial potential: A nine country study of locus of control and innovativeness

Entrepreneurship research has identified a number of personal characteristics believed to be instrumental in motivating entrepreneurial behavior. Two frequently cited personal traits associated with entrepreneurial potential are internal locus of control and innovativeness. Internal locus of control has been one of the most studied psychological traits in entrepreneurship research, while innovative activity is explicit in Schumpeter's description of the entrepreneur. Entrepreneurial traits have been studied extensively in the United States. However, cross-cultural studies and studies in non-U.S. contexts are rare and in most cases limited to comparisons between one or two countries or cultures. Thus the question is raised: do entrepreneurial traits vary systematically across cultures and if so, why? Culture, as the underlying system of values peculiar to a specific group or society, shapes the development of certain personality traits and motivates individuals in a society to engage in behaviors that may not be evident in other societies. Hofstede's (1980) extensive culture study, leading to the development of four culture dimensions, provide a clear articulation of differences between countries in values, beliefs, and work roles. Although Hofstede did not specify the relationship between culture and entrepreneurial activity per se, his culture dimensions are useful in identifying key aspects of culture related to the potential for entrepreneurial behavior. In this paper we offer several hypotheses about the relationship between two of Hofstede's culture dimensions and psychological traits associated with entrepreneurial potential. We expect that an internal locus of control orientation is more prevalent in individualistic cultures than in collectivistic cultures. Likewise, we expect that an innovative orientation is more prevalent in low uncertainty avoidance cultures than in high uncertainty avoidance cultures. However, since neither internal locus of control nor innovativeness alone is sufficient to explain entrepreneurial motivation, we also hypothesize that individuals with both an internal locus of control and innovative orientation should appear more frequently in highly individualistic and low uncertainty cultures. These hypotheses were tested on a sample of over 1,800 responses to a survey of third- and fourth-year students at universities in nine countries. Eighteen items in the survey instrument were used to construct scales for innovativeness and locus of control. Items for the innovativeness scale were adapted from the Jackson Personality Inventory while items used for the locus of control scale were adapted from Rotter's I-E scale. The results of this exploratory study support the proposition that some cultures are more conducive for entrepreneurship than others. In individualistic cultures we found an increased likelihood of an internal locus of control orientation. There was also support for the hypothesis that an entrepreneurial orientation, defined as internal locus of control combined with innovativeness, is more likely in individualistic, low uncertainty avoidance cultures than in collectivistic, high uncertainty avoidance cultures. Culture, it appears, may condition potential for entrepreneurship, generating differences across national and regional boundaries. One tentative conclusion is that a “supportive” national culture will, ceteris paribus, increase the entrepreneurial potential of a country. This suggests that in addition to support from political, social, and business leaders, there needs to be a supportive culture to cultivate the mind and character of the potential entrepreneur. To be motivated to act, potential entrepreneurs must perceive themselves as capable and psychologically equipped to face the challenges of a global, competitive marketplace. Business education can play an important role in this regard by providing not only the technical tools (i.e. accounting, marketing, finance, etc.), but by also helping to reorient individuals toward self reliance, independent action, creativity, and flexible thinking. This study examines only two entrepreneurial traits (innovativeness and internal locus of control) and only one of the many contextual factors (culture) which may explain differences among countries in the rate of new venture formation. Future research should expand this investigation to include other traits associated with entrepreneurial behavior as well as the effect of other contextual factors such as education system, political economy, and stage of economic development.

Locus of Control Orientation and Acceptance of Disability

The purpose of this study was to determine if differences existed in acceptance of disability scores between individuals with internal locus of control and external locus of control orientations. Ninety-seven out of 200 randomly-chosen participants with disabilities from a southern California community college completed the Reactions to Impairment and Disability Inventory (RIDI), Rotter's I-E Locus of Control Scale, and a demographic profile sheet. Acceptance of disability was defined as both acknowledgment and adjustment to a disability. Adjustment scores were found to be higher among those with an internal locus of control orientation but only among participants with mental/psychiatric disabilities. Also, differences in adjustment scores were found to be influenced by the domain of locus of control items. Implications for theory and research are briefly suggested.

Relationship of perceived parenting styles, locus of control orientation, and self-concept among junior high age students

Relationships between adolescents' perceptions of their parents' responsiveness and demandingness, adolescents' locus of control orientation, and adolescents' self-concept ratings were investigated. Participants included 198 students in grades eight and nine who were administered the Nowicki–Strickland Internal–External Locus of Control Scale, the Harter Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents, and the Perceived Parenting Styles Survey. Participants who perceived their parents as being Authoritative had a significantly more internal locus of control orientation than subjects who perceived their parents as either Permissive or Authoritarian. Self-Concept scores were significantly higher for the Authoritative group than for the Permissive or Authoritarian groups in several areas. The findings indicate that an Authoritative style of parenting may contribute to the development of self-adequacy by being associated with internal locus of control orientation and stronger self-concept, while Permissive and Authoritarian styles of parenting may be associated with negative patterns of social-emotional development. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Relationship of perceived parenting styles, locus of control orientation, and self-concept among junior high age students

Relationships between adolescents' perceptions of their parents' responsiveness and demandingness, adolescents' locus of control orientation, and adolescents' self-concept ratings were investigated. Participants included 198 students in grades eight and nine who were administered the Nowicki–Strickland Internal–External Locus of Control Scale, the Harter Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents, and the Perceived Parenting Styles Survey. Participants who perceived their parents as being Authoritative had a significantly more internal locus of control orientation than subjects who perceived their parents as either Permissive or Authoritarian. Self-Concept scores were significantly higher for the Authoritative group than for the Permissive or Authoritarian groups in several areas. The findings indicate that an Authoritative style of parenting may contribute to the development of self-adequacy by being associated with internal locus of control orientation and stronger self-concept, while Permissive and Authoritarian styles of parenting may be associated with negative patterns of social-emotional development. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

The effects of culturally consonant group counseling on the self-esteem and internal locus of control orientation among native american adolescents

Multicultural counseling theorists and researchers have noted the importance of providing culturally sensitive services to ethnic minority clients. This article reports on the results of a study that was designed to assess the impact of a culturally consonant group format among Native Hawaiian adolescents. The study investigated the efficacy of a 10-session group counseling format using a Native Hawaiian healing method and culturally indigenous form of communication that was designed to enhance the participants' self-esteem and internal locus of control orientation. The results suggest that the group format had a positive impact on the adolescents' general and parent /home-related self-esteem.

A psychosocial study of 'self-immolation' in India.

The phenomenon of self-immolation was studied in 22 young people, mostly students, who had indulged in this act to protest against the decision of the Government of India to enlarge the scope of reservations in jobs and educational institutions. Within a short span of time of arriving at one of the two treatment centres after attempting self-immolation, the subjects were interviewed and assessed on a semi-structured interview schedule to elicit sociodemographic and attitudinal data. The subjects were also rated on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Pierce's Suicide Intent Scale, the Superego Paranoia Depression Scale, the Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire, the PGI Locus of Control Scale and the Alienation Scale. All subjects except one were free of manifest psychopathology. The group as a whole had a high score on Pierce's Suicide Intent Scale and displayed internal locus of control orientation. Most were ambitious, aggressive, hostile and felt alienated. The absence of manifest psychopathology sets this group apart from cases of deliberate self-harm arising in the context of psychiatric morbidity. Thwarted ambitions, a sense of alienation and intropunitive hostility can lead to protest which at times becomes altruistic and results in self-immolation.

Argumentativeness and verbal aggressiveness as a function of locus of control

This study examined argumentativeness, verbal aggressiveness, and general control expectancies. Two hundred ten (N=210) participants completed the Argumentativeness Scale, the Verbal Aggressiveness Scale, and a modified version of the Three‐Factor Locus of Control Scale. Results indicate that individuals who reportan internal control orientation were found toreport lower levels of argument avoidance than externals. Externals reported higher levels of verbal aggressiveness than internals. Further, an external locus of control orientation was positively related to verbal aggressiveness. Internal locus of control orientation was negatively related to tendency to avoid arguments. The findings provide further evidence into the relationship between control expectancies and aggressive communication traits.

Student teachers' beliefs about developmentally appropriate practice: Pattern, stability, and the influence of locus of control

Student teacher beliefs about developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) were investigated in relation to socialization influences. Sixty student teachers (25 with elementary plus early childhood preparation, 35 with elementary only preparation) completed the Primary Teacher Questionnaire (PTQ), the Internal Locus of Control Index (ICI), and an adaptation of the PTQ rating cooperating teacher beliefs. Early childhood student teachers endorsed developmentally-based practices more than did elementary student teachers; the elementary group endorsed traditional practices more than did the early childhood group. Between-group patterns remained stable over the student teaching placement, indicating a strong preservice influence on beliefs. No within-group changes were found, indicating a continuity in beliefs across the student teaching experience. Results only partially supported the view that student teacher beliefs become similar to those of their cooperating teachers. Internal locus of control orientation had no effect on the convergence of student teacher and cooperating teacher beliefs.

Relationship of Locus of Control Orientation to Clothing Satisfaction and Clothing Importance of Selected Fifth‐Grade Students at Three Achievement Levels

The purpose of this study is to determine if a relationship exists between locus of control and clothing satisfaction and clothing importance among Sth‐grade boys and girls at 3 achievement levels. Locus of control refers to the expectancy that an outcome is influenced either by external factors (i.e., luck, chance, fate, or powerfid others) or by internal factors (i.e., effort, skill, or ability). One accelerated, 1 special education, and 3 regular 5th‐grade classes were surveyed (44 girls; 62 boys) using the Clothing Deprivation Scale and Nowicki‐Strickland Locus of Control Scale for Children. Overall, girls exhibited a greater external locus of control orientation than boys. Students of both sexes in the accelerated class had a greater internal locus of control orientation and perceived clothing to be of greater importance than students in the regular and special education classes. All students with an internal locus of control also indicated higher satisfaction with their clothing than students with an external locus of control orientation. The relationship between locus of control and clothing satisfaction and importance may be used to help students develop an internal locus of control, which has been found to be an adaptive orientation.