Review of the Internal-External Control Construct as a Personality Variable

Abstract

This review of recent research concerning Rotter's concept of internal-external control of reinforcement is divided into 12 areas: the Internal-External (I-E) Control Scale, personality, attempts to control the environment, achievement, reactions to threat, ethnic group and social class differences, parent-child relationships, risk-taking, reactions to social stimuli, and the relation of the internal-external control measure to anxiety, adjustment, and learning. Evidence generally supports the validity of Rotter's concept. Implications and limitations of the research are presented, and suggestions for further work in specific problem areas are made.