INTERNAL VERSUS EXTERNAL CONTROL OF DEFENDANTS STUDIED IN A PROBATION SETTING

• NCJ Number: 15113
• Journal: Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 11 Issue: 2 Dated: (JULY 1974) Pages: 117-123
• Author(s): H L HENDERSON; N J STEINER
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: National Council on Crime and Delinquency
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

INSTITUTIONALIZATION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROBATIONERS' HIGH INTERNAL CONTROL TEST RESULTS BECAUSE THEY LEARN TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS WITH THE 'DESIRED' ANSWER.

Abstract

THE ROTTER I-E (INTERNAL-EXTERNAL) SCALE IS USED TO STUDY THE AMOUNT OF CONTROL A PERSON FEELS HE HAS OVER HIS ENVIRONMENT. THIS SCALE WAS GIVEN TO 84 PROBATIONERS REFERRED FROM THE LUCAS COUNTY (OHIO) COMMON PLEAS COURT. A HIGH INTERNAL SCORE INDICATES THAT A SUBJECT FEELS THAT HE EXERCISES A GOOD DEAL OF CONTROL OVER HIS ENVIRONMENT AND IS NOT DEPENDENT ON LUCK OR CHANCE. A REVISION OF THE SAME SCALE (REVISED FOR LOWER EDUCATIONAL LEVEL) WAS GIVEN TO 76 SIMILAR DEFENDANTS. SEVEN VARIABLES WERE ANALYZED WITH THE INTERNAL-EXTERNAL VARIABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THERE WAS ANY SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEM AND THE I-E VARIABLE. MULTIPLE OFFENSES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY RELATED TO THE INTERNAL VARIABLE ON THE REVISED I-E SCALE (AN UNEXPECTED DIRECTION). AGE APPROACHED SIGNIFICANCE IN THAT ALMOST FOUR TIMES MORE OF THE OLDER DEFENDANTS SCORED HIGHER ON THE INTERNAL VARIABLE THAN THE EXTERNAL VARIABLE ON THE REVISED I-E SCALE (AN UNEXPECTED DIRECTION). THE ORIGINAL I-E SCALE DID NOT DISCRIMINATE ON ANY OF THE VARIABLES STUDIED. THE DATA SUGGEST THAT AS THE DEFENDANTS GROW OLDER, COMMIT MORE OFFENSES, THEY COME INTO CONTACT WITH SOCIAL AGENCIES WHICH TEACH INTERNAL VALUES, AND RESPOND WITH 'INSTITUTIONALIZED' ANSWERS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)