Locus of Control and Leadership in Children

Abstract

The study focused on the relationships between locus of control, positive persuasion, prosocial leadership and popularity of children in Grades 3, 4, and 5. Locus of Control was assessed by a general measure and a measure specific to the social domain. The Children's Self-efficacy for Peer Interaction Scale was used to assess positive persuasion and sociometric techniques were used with peers and teachers to assess prosocial leadership and popularity. Internality was positively associated with positive persuasion in Grades 4 and 5. Social locus of control correlated significantly with leadership and popularity measures in Grades 4 and 5. Positive persuasion was not associated with the leadership/popularity measures. The results generally confirmed the important role of social locus of control in the achievement of social status.