Locus of control and therapists' occupational role as determinants of clinical prognoses

Clinical studies that used the internal-external locus of control model developed by Rotter (1967) have shown a marked preference among clinicians for clients with an internal locus of control. In the belief that occupational roles can affect such preferences, this study examined clinicians' (sychiatrists, psychologists, social workers) prognoses for clients who had described their problems in terms of either an internal, external, or no locus of control. As hypothesized, a 5 X 3 X 3 replicated Latin Square design found that while clients who attributed their problems to an internal locus of control were given better prognoses, clinicians differed along occupational role dimensions in their prognoses for the same client. The implications of those occupational differences for professional practice were discussed.