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Abstract

Previous research involving the Rotter I-E Scale indicates that incongruency between observed behavior and verbalized external expectancies is related to a defensive attributional process. It is also positively associated with the disjunction between the expectancy for obtaining a particular reinforcement and the value attached to it. This investigation explored these relationships for internal scorers. As predicted, a positive relationship between discrepancy and disjunction was found for internal scorers and suggests that the scale is a useful measure in clinical assessment. Predictions regarding attribution of responsibility for failure of outcomes were also supported. In general, confirmation was found for the theoretical constructs in Rotter's social learning theory; the construct of internal discrepancy received validational support.

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Defensive Internality and Attribution of Responsibility

Abstract

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