Locus of control research on alcoholic populations: a review. II. Relationship to other measures

Research literature dealing with the relationships of locus of control to age, ability to function, and personality traits is reviewed. Results are contradictory on the relationship of locus of control in alcoholics to age, social desirability, and intellectual functioning. There is some tendency for internality to be related to better social functioning and the defenses of denial, intellectualization, and repression. There is some possible support for a relationship of externality and anxiety, and externality does appear related to helplessness, depression, isolation, general clinical pathology, and the defense of turning against another. No relationship has been found between locus of control and field dependence for alcoholics. Methodological difficulties have included problems with sampling, unsystematic research, assuming homogeneity of alcoholic samples, and assuming linearity and unidimensionality of the scales. Possible research which could clarify some of the areas are suggested.