This study examined the relation between internal-external control and socioeconomic status in a sample of 190 sixth grade black children. A strongly significant linear relationship held between these two variables; each higher level of socioeconomic status was associated with a greater expectancy of internal control. This finding was interpreted as supporting the usefulness of Rotter's expectancy concept in the study of black children.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BattleE.RotterJ. B.Children's feelings of personal control as related to social class and ethnic group. Journal of Personality, 1963, 31, 482–490.
2.
BialerI.Conceptualization of success and failure in mentally retarded and normal children. Journal of Personality, 1961, 29, 303–320.
3.
CrandallV. C.KatkovskyW.CrandallV. J.Children's beliefs in their own control of reinforcements in intellectual-academic achievement situations. Child Development, 1965, 36, 91–109.
4.
DeutschC. P.Social class and child development. In CaldwellB. M.RicciutiH. N. (Eds.), Review of child development research. Vol. 3. Chicago: Univer. of Chicago Press, 1973. Pp. 233–282.
5.
DuncanO. D.A socioeconomic index for all occupations. In ReissA. J.Jr. (Ed.), Occupations and social status. New York: Free Press, 1961. Pp. 109–161, 263–275.
6.
GorsuchR. L.HenighanR. P.BarnardC.Locus of control: an example of dangers in using children's scales with children. Child Development, 1972, 43, 579–590.
7.
GurinG.GurinP.Expectancy theory in the study of poverty. Journal of Social Issues, 1970, 26, 83–104.
8.
JoeV. C.Review of the internal-external control construct as a personality variable. Psychological Reports, 1971, 28, 619–640. (Monograph Supplement 3-V28).
9.
LefcourtH. M.Internal-external control of reinforcement: a review. Psychological Bulletin, 1966, 65, 206–220.
10.
LefcourtH. M.Recent developments in the study of locus of control. In MaherB. A. (Ed.), Progress in experimental research in personality. Vol. 6. New York: Academic Press, 1972. Pp. 1–39.
11.
LefcourtH. M.Locus of control: current trends in theory and research. Hillsdale, N. J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Assoc., 1976.
12.
LessingE. E.Racial differences in indices of ego functioning relevant to academic achievement. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 1969, 115, 153–167.
13.
MilgramN. A.ShoreM. F.RiedelW. W.MalaskyC.Level of aspiration and locus of control in disadvantaged children. Psychological Reports, 1970, 27, 343–350.
14.
NowickiS.WalkerC.Achievement in relation to locus of control: identification of a new source of variance. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 1973, 123, 63–67.
15.
PedhazurL.WheelerL.Locus of perceived control and need achievement. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1971, 33, 1281–1282.
16.
PharesE. J.Locus of control: a personality determinant of behavior. Morristown, N. J.: General Learning Press, 1973.
17.
PharesE. J.Locus of control in personality. Morristown, N. J.: General Learning Press, 1976.
18.
RotterJ. B.Social learning and clinical psychology. Englewood Cliffs, N. J.: Prentice-Hall, 1954.
19.
RotterJ. B.Generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement. Psychological Monographs, 1966, 80, No. 1 (Whole No. 609).
20.
ShawR. L.UhlN. P.Control of reinforcement and academic achievement. Journal of Educational Research, 1971, 64, 226–228.
21.
SolomonD.HoulihanK.PareliusR. J.Intellectual achievement responsibility in Negro and white children. Psychological Reports, 1969, 24, 479–483.
22.
StephensM. W.DelysP.External control expectancies among disadvantaged children at preschool age. Child Development, 1973, 44, 670–674.
23.
ZytkoskeeA.StricklandB. R.WatsonJ.Delay of gratification and internal versus external control among adolescents of low socioeconomic status. Developmental Psychology, 1971, 4, 93–98.
