Age Differences in Locus of Control and Self-Monitoring in China

Abstract

Locus of control and self-monitoring were measured in three age groups in Changchun, northeastern China: 164 junior high school students (12–15 yr.), 121 college students (16–26 yr.), and 46 adults (29–57 yr.). Analysis indicated that adults and college students scored higher on locus of control (Ms = 10.0 and 9.2, scores indicating the number of external control beliefs affirmed) than high school students (M = 6.1) and that adults scored lower on self-monitoring (M = 8.7) than college and high school students (Ms = 11.6 and 10.6). Such differences seem attributable to the interaction between individual development and some societal factors that are believed to foster external control beliefs and propensity to self-monitoring.

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