Multidimensional Locus Of Control Research Articles

Much attention has been focused recently on the relationship between biofeedback and locus of control. Biofeedback refers to any technique using instrumentation to provide a person with instantaneous information on a bodily function, of which he is usually not aware, e.g., heartrate, GSR. Locus of control (Rotter, 1966) refers to the degree to which one sees reinforcements as contingent on his own behavior (inrernals) or determined by fate, chance, or powerful others (externals). Fotopoulos ( 1970) and Ray ( 1971) smdied the relationship between locus of control, biofeedback, and the ability to control heartrate. Using Rotrer's I-E scale, they found that inrernals were able to incrme their heartrates significantly more than externals. However, one cannot ascertain from these results if internals were more successful because they believed in self-control or because they believed chance was not an important factor in their lives. Several investigators have presented evidence indicating that the I-E scale is not unidimensional and have suggested that to be a valid instrument, the I-E scale must undergo further refinements. Levenson (1973) has developed three independent scales which attempt to measure different aspects of locus of control+xpectancies of control by self (I scale), powerful others (P scale), and chance (C scale). The purpose of this smdy was to use the new multidimensional scales in order to understand more precisely the relationship berween personality and biofeedback and to examine this relationship in terms of a measure other than heartrate. It was predicted that only scores on the I scale (personal control) would be significantly related to ability to control one's GSR. During a regular class period, 100 male and female undergraduates enrolled in an introductory psychology course, were administered the three scales. Of this number, 30 volunteered to participate in the biofeedback sessions. Ss were provided with a definition of GSR and were instructed to try to lower their GSR responses over a 2-min. interval with visual feedback provided in the form of a display meter. This procedure was repeated five times interspersed with l-min. rest intervals. A Smelting Psychogalvanoscope was used. The scale scores of the 10 Ss who were best able to lower their GSR responses (mean change = -2.75 reaction unin) were compared with the scores of those 10 Ss who were least able to lower their GSR (mean change = +. 13 ) . As expected, results indicated that those Ss who were more successful at using biofeedback had significantly higher I (personal control) scale scores (M = 38.4) than those who could not make use of the biofeedback (M = 32.3, t = 2.61, p < .01). There was no relationship between ability to control GSR and scores on the P (powerful others) or the C (chance) scales. Thus, personality differences are related to biofeedback performance. Furthermore, only beliefs about self-control and not about chance or powerful others appear to be relevant to voluntary coorrol of autonomic functions.

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