Studies

• Williams and Warchal (81)

  • 30 university students complete a range of conformity tasks
  • They were assessed used Rotter's locus of control scale
  • Those who conformed were significantly less assertive but didn't score differently on the scale
• Oliner and Oliner (88) -

  2 groups of non-Jewish people who helped Jews and rescued Jews

  There was a greater internal locus of control and higher scores on measures of social responsibility
• Schurz (85) -

  • 56 Australian Ps under went a 'painful ultrasound simulation' to a learner
  • 80% pressed all 20 switches
  • Locus of control measures were not predictive of obedience
  • 20% who disobeyed took more responsibility for their actions
• Holland (67)-

  Variations of Milgram's procedure - No relationship between the scores on Rotter's scale (Internal/external locus of control scale) and levels of obedience
• Blass (91)

  Reanalysed the data from Holland's study using more sophisticated techniques

  • Those with ILOC were more resistant pressures to obey especially is they were coerced or manipulated
• Berhony and Geller (81)-

  Those with external locus of control were more conformists in Asch tasks - supports Rotter's idea
• Twenge et al (2004) -

  People have become more independent and less conformist over the last 40 years - some have also become externals

  There have been changes in locus of control between 1961 and 2002 - existing studies
• Spector (88)

  Internal locus of control only made a difference in situations that produced normative social pressure not if ISI is involved

  Less of a need for acceptance
• Linz and Semykina (2005) - Locus of control interacting with gender

  Surveyed 2600 Russian employees

  • Men have an internal locus of control - have a need for a challenge
  • Women have an external locus of control - have a need for affiliation