The development of goal specific locus of control scales is described along with several validity studies. The scales were designed to assess the locus of control for affiliation and achievement and were constructed from items representing each quadrant of Weiner's locus and stability of causal attribution model. Half the items concern success, and half, failure experiences. In a series of four studies the achievement locus of control scale failed to predict the affiliation-relevant criteria but was related to body movements indicative of discomfort in the one achievement situation that was investigated. Interference and disruptions during the achievement task had a greater unsettling influence upon achievement internals. Affiliation locus of control, on the other hand, allowed for the prediction of self-disclosure when conditions called for disclosure, and was related to the demonstration of listening skills in a dyadic interaction. In each case affiliation internals proved more socially adroit. In addition, affiliation locus of control was related to recalled early life events that had previously been found to be related to more general measures of locus of control.

Two separate dimensions called Fatalism and Social System Control (ssc) have been identified in recent research on I-E. The present studies were undertaken to examine whether subdimensions or other separate factors besides these two existed in I-E. It was found that contrary to previous interpretations Ss do not distinguish control of self from control of others within these two dimensions. Rather, the factor analytic data supported the interpretation that Fatalism and ssc differ only in terms of their "source" of control. The hypothesis that there Is a third dimension of I-E was supported. This dimension was identified as Self Control of one's impulses, desires, and emotions. Interpretation and implications for the application of these dimensions of I-E were discussed.

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In the search for moderators of negative life events, locus of control has been thought to be one of the more potentially important personality variables. Recent research has substantiated this hypothesis to a limited degree. This article presents stronger indications for the utility of locus of control variables. Locus of control measures were found to interact with recalled negative life events in predicting mood states that were assessed weekly over a period of several weeks. Multiple-regression analyses indicated that negative life events that had occurred during the high school years had a lingering effect on the current mood states of the more external university students. On the other hand, more recently occurring negative life events resulted in mood disturbances for all subjects regardless of locus of control scores, although externals appeared to be equally distraught in the absence of negative events. Multiple correlations between negative life events, locus of control, and mood scores attained sizable magnitudes. Positive life events, on the other hand, were found to have relatively slight effects on subsequent mood disturbance.

The growing interest in and use of goal-specific locus of control scales to investigate the significance of internal-external control beliefs in a variety of important life areas has prompted the development and preliminary validation of the Miller Marital Locus of Control scale (MMLOC). The 44-item scale measures the extent to which respondents view reinforcements in the marital domain as being contingent upon their own efforts and abilities, or as being due to factors outside their control. Results indicate that the scale has good internal consistency reliability. Intcrnalily lor marriage, as measured by the scale, is positively associated with intimacy within marriage and marital satisfaction. The scale is significantly correlated with life satisfaction now and in the future, but not with life satisfaction five years ago, providing some evidence of discriminant validity. Additional validity is found in the relationships with the affiliation but not the achievement scales of the Multidimensional Multiattributional Causality Scale (MMCS). Results al this initial stage of scale development arc therefore promising and suggest that the scale will be useful in investigating the role of expectancies for reinforcement in marriage.

Factor analyzed the scores of 130 20-55 yr old females in a weight-reducing club and 85 undergraduates on Rotter's Internal-External Control Scale. Results of the 2 studies offer rather clear evidence that there are at least 2 independent factors of Internal vs External (I-E) control. The 1st factor, "Fatalism," concerned the belief that luck, fate, or fortune vs hard work, ability, and personal responsibility determine one's outcomes. The 2nd factor, "Social System Control," measured the extent to which people believe they can or cannot effect change within the sociopolitical realms of their society. The possible limitations of Rotter's rather heterogeneous I-E scale are explained and an alternative research strategy involving multiple regression analyses based on homogeneous I-E subscales is proposed. This new approach would not only facilitate more accurate predictions of criteria, but would also promote further refinement of I-E theory. (French summary)

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