LOCUS OF CONTROL

• LOCUS OF CONTROL - ROTTER (1966)

  • a persons perception of personal control over their own behaviour
  • DISPOSITIONAL explanation of obedience
• INTERNAL locus of control

  • high level of control over own lives and behaviour
  • less likely to rely on others
  • less likely to conform
• EXTERNAL locus of control

  • believe life is controlled by external factors
  • more likely to be influenced
• HOLLAND - repeated Milgrams study

  • 37% internal didn’t give highest shock (showed independence)
  • 23% external didn’t give highest shock
  • supports and increases validity of LOC explanation of obedience
• SPECTOR

  • external LOCs did conform more
  • BUT only with NSI
  • ISI - no difference
• ROTTER ET AL - role of LOC may be exaggerated

  • only important in new situations
  • therefore can only explain a limited range of situations
• TWENGE ET AL - data analysis of American obedience studies

  • showed over time people have become more resistant to authority
  • but more external