The relationship between locus of control and psychotherapy: A review of the literature.

Internal-External Control and Headache Response to Biofeedback and Psychotherapy

“…These findings are consistent with the weight of the corresponding evidence from studies of the differential responsiveness of patients varying in locus of control to more and less directive forms of psychotherapy [Baker, 1979;Messer and Meinster, 1980]. Our data thus extend that literature to head ache patients and to two different methods of treatment per se.…”

“…Al though these studies are in the main compat ible with the notion that internally oriented persons tend to respond more positively to treatment than their external counterparts [Baker, 1979], most designs incorporated only a single modality and hence could not test for the internal-external control by direc tiveness of treatment interaction hypothesis. The few studies examining internal-external control in relation to the outcome of more than one type of treatment have revealed a trend toward greater improvement among patients matched in terms of locus of con trol and treatment structure [Abramowitz et al, 1974;Baker, 1979;Messer and Meinster, 1980]. Relative internals have indeed tended to fare better in less directive thera py, and relative externals have tended to register greater gains in more directive treatment.…”

Assessment of locus of control: Situational specificity in the sexual context

“…(For reviews, see Baker, 1979;Joe, 1971;Lefcourt, 1976;Strickland, 1978;and Zimet, 1979. ) Although prior locus of control (LC) research covers a variety of social psychological contexts, few studies have examined LC with respect to sexual behavior, cognitions, and affect.…”

Psychotherapy Outcome as a Function of Therapist–Patient Matching on Selected Variables

“…In considering the possible explanations for the failure of this matching dimension to make any kind of showing in the prediction of outcomes, the measurement of "reactance potential" by the wanted Control subscale of the FIR0-B would appear to be the weakest link in the operationalization process and the most likely source of error. Although this construct has been successfully validated in studies using the Rotter I-E locus of control scale (Baker, 1979; Another limitation to the present study which must be considered is the operationalization of the therapy dimensions by the use of the Theoretical Orientation Questionnaire. Due to the self-report nature of this instrument, the possibility exists that obtained scores on the TOQ reflect therapist biases that bear little or no correspondence to actual therapy practice: that is, there may not be any direct correspondence between "internal/external orientation" as expressed in a self-report measure and actual behavior in the therapeutic encounter.…”