Rotter's internal-external control theory as well as some recent experimental research on reactions to failure and negative evaluations suggests that externals should react differ ently from internals to receiving poor grades in a college course. Externals were expected to downgrade the course and the fairness of examinations when asked to report their attitudes towards the course. Internals and externals who were receiving good grades were not expected to differ. The present field-correlational study found support for these predictions.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Davis, W.L. & Davis, D.E.Internal-external control and attribution of responsibility for success and failure. Journal of Personality, 1972, 40, 123-136.
2.
Joe, V.C.Review of the internal-external control construct as a personality variable . Psychological Reports, 1971, 28, 619-640.
3.
Jones, S.C. & Shrauger, J.S.Locus of control and interpersonal evaluations . Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1968, 32, 664-668.
4.
Lefcourt, H.M.Internal versus external control of reinforcement: A review. Psychological Bulletin,1966, 65, 206-220.
5.
Phares, E.J., Wilson, K.G., & Klyver, N.W.Internal-external control and the attribution of blame under neutral and distractive conditions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1971, 18, 285-288.
6.
Rotter, J.B.Generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement . Psychological Monographs, 1966, 80, No. 1 (Whole No. 609).
