The relationship of internality-externality, self-acceptance, and self-ideal discrepancies

Internals (n=35) and externals (n=38) responded to Rotter's (12) I-E scale under two sets of instructions: standard (as the kind of persons they really were) and ideal-self instructions (as if they were the types of persons they would like to be) and the self-acceptance questionnaire (4). Results indicated (a) on both instruments the discrepancy between real and ideal-self was significantly larger in externals: (b) the external ideal-self includes an internal locus of control; (c) a significant discriminatory factor between internals and externals is their perceived control over their own destiny and not social institutions. The results were discussed in terms of the relationship of externality to maladjustment, neuroticism, and possible causes for this relationship.