Psychological Reports, 1975, 37, 1171-1176.
@ Psychological Reports 1975
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GENERALIZED EXPECTANCIES FOR CONTROL A N D EXPERIENCED CONTROL AMONG ALCOHOLICS DENNIS M. DONOVAN, MICHAEL R. O'LEARY, A N D E D W A R D J. SCHAU Veterans Administration Hospital, Seattle, Washington
Summary.-The Locus of Control and Experienced Control scales were administered to 89 male alcoholics. Both correlational and difference data suggested an inverse relationship between alcoholics' perceived !ocus of control and the magnitude of control experienced in social situations. Alcoholics with an internal locus of control experienced a significantly greater magnitude of control over both interpersonal and intrapersonal sources of pressure or stress than did external alcoholics. The implications of these results with respect to psychosocial functioning and drinking behavior among alcoholic subgroups was discussed.
The issue of control orientation among alcoholics has received increased attention in recent psychological literature. This surge in research appears related to differential theoretical approaches to and confusion over drinking behavior wichin an alcoholic population. The points of view have ranged from the disease model of alcoholism (Jellinek, 1960) co a behavioral model based on principles of learning theory (Kepner, 1964; Miller & Barlow, 1973). In the former orientation, drinking behavior is explained as alcoholics' inability to set effective limits on alcohol consumption or as a "loss of control" phenomenon (Jellinek, 1960; Marconi, Fink, & Moya, 1967). The behavioral approach views drinking as an instrumentan response which is socially acquired and maintained by the reinforcing value of alcohol-induced modifications in social b e h a v i o r a n d affective state (Kepner, 1964; Miller & Barlow, 1973). Thus, certain forms of reinforcing consequences may be perceived by the alcoholic to be contingent upon his drinking behavior. Within this framework, the alcoholic may be described as having a certain degree of control over events in both his internal and social environment. Much of the research focusing on the control orientation among alcoholics has investigated perceived locus of control. This construct, assessed by Rotter's (1966) Locus of Control scale (I-E), provides a measure of the degree of responsibility an individual perceives himself to have over significant life events. Internal persons perceive that they have some influence or control over the outcome of life events as a result of their behavior; external individuals do not perceive such contingencies but rather perceive life events as controlled by external agents. The results of research comparing locus of control between alcoholics and nonalcoholics have been equivoca1.l However, wichin an alcoholic 'D. J. Rohsenow & M. R. O'Leary, Locus of control research on alcoholic populacions: a review. (Manuscript submitted for publication, 1975)
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population, an external locus of control has been related to increased levels of psychopathology (Goss & Morosko, 1970; O'Leary, Donovan, & Hague, 1974a, 1974b). A related issue is the degree to which a person experiences himself to have control over internal and external sources of stress. Tiffany, Schontz, and Woll (1969) posit thac a person may experience himself as having control over intrapersonal and interpersonal pressures, or conversely, one may experience himself as being controlled by such forces. When the individual experiences himself in control of both internal and external sources of pressure, his behavior is described as self-directed; behavior that is motivated by either organismic or social forces is considered to be nonself-determined or impulsive (Tiffany & Tiffany, 1973). Although a state of balance is posited theoretically, control over interpersonal and intrapersonal pressures is indicative of higher levels of psychosocial adjustment (Tiffany, 1967). It appears that an internal locus of control and a high level of experienced control have a common, positive relationship with adaptive psychosocial and personality functioning (Joe, 1971; Tiffany, 1967). However, empirical studies of the relationship berween these two constructs of personal control have yielded minimal intercorrelations. Tiffany, Salkin, and Cowan ( 1970) correlated the I-Escores of 74 unemployed males with six measures of experienced control across 15 social situations. Only five of the 90 correlations were significant ( p < .05)and were assumed by the authors to have occurred by chance. However, the authors failed to investigate the correlations becween I-E scores and over-all mean scores of the six experienced control subscales. These latter mean scores would provide a more reliable measure of the magnitude of control experienced in social settings than the individual item scores employed. Costello and Manders (1974) found that an internal locus of control was significantly related to the experience of increased control over external forces among an alcoholic sample. The I-E scores failed to correlate with the degree of control experienced over internal sources of pressure or with the degree to which the individual felt conuolled by either interpersonal or intrapersonal stresses. These results, however, are of questionable reliability due co the relatively small sample size ( n = 28). The results are further confounded since the sample consisted of 14 alcoholics entering an inpatient rehabilitation program and 14 recovered alcoholics with a minimum of 3 yr. of sobriety who served as alcoholism counselors; of control. the two groups differed significantly in their perceived IOCLIS The purpose of the present scudy was to investigate further the relationship between measures of perceived locus of control and experienced control among alcoholics. It was hypothesized that alcoholics with an internal locus of control would experience a greater degree of control over internal and external pressures, as well as experience less control as exerted on them by such pressure, than externally scoring alcoholics.
CONTROL AMONG ALCOHOLICS
1173
METHOD Silb jects In the sample were 89 male veterans involved in an inpatient alcoholism treatment program. Ss had a mean age of 47.0 yr. (SD = 10.0) and a mean educational level of 12.0 yr. (SD = 2.6). All Ss had keen completely detoxified, and none were assessed to have organic brain syndrome or other major psychiatric diagnoses. Materials
Perceived locus of control was assessed by Rotter's (1966) I-E scale, scored in the external direction. The Experienced Control scale (Tiffany, 1967) measures the magnitude and locus of control a person experiences across a number of social settings. Four scores derived from the Experienced Control scale represent the magnitude of control experienced over internal pressures, from internal sources, over external pressures, and from external sources. Scores on each of these subscales may range from 0 to 100. Two ratios, expressed as natural logarithms, reflect respectively the relative degree of control experienced over internal, inuapersonal and external, social sources of pressure. Higher ratios are indicative of higher levels of adaptive behavior; lower ratios indicate a greater degree of impulsive behavior. The I-E and Experienced Control scales were administered as part of a larger battery of research tests approximately 1Y2 wk. following admission to treatment.
RESULTS It was hypothesized that an internal locus of control would be related to higher scores on the self-directed and lower scores on the non-self-directed factors of the Experienced Control scale. This hypothesis was partially supported. The I-E scale scores were significantly correlated ( p < .01) with control over internal pressures ( r = - 3 9 ) and external pressures ( r = -.33) scales on the Experienced Control. However, no significant relationships were found between the locus of control scores and control from internal sources ( 7 = -.09) or external sources ( 7 = .16) scores on the Experienced Control scale. The I-E scores also correlated significantly in the predicted direction with the ratios indicating the proportionate degree of control experienced over internal, intrapersonal sources of pressure ( r = -.25, p < .05)and over external, interpersonal sources ( r = -.34, p < .01). The sample was divided into Internal ( n = 46) and External ( n = 43) groups on the basis of a median split on the I-E scale score distribution ( M d n = 6.5). The means and standard deviations on the Experienced Control subscales for the two groups are found in Table 1. The internal scorers experienced significantly more control ( P < .01) over both intrapersonal and interpersonal
D. M. DONOVAN, ET AL.
1174
TABLE 1
MEANS,STANDARD DEVIATIONS, AND t TESTS FOR INTERNAL A N D EXTERNAL ON MEASURES OF EXPERIENCED CONTROL ALCOHOLICS I-E Group
Over Internal
From Internal
Experienced Control Variables Over From Internal External External Ratio -
-
-
-
External Ratio
- --
-
Internal
M SD External M
SD t
*p
@ Psychological Reports 1975
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GENERALIZED EXPECTANCIES FOR CONTROL A N D EXPERIENCED CONTROL AMONG ALCOHOLICS DENNIS M. DONOVAN, MICHAEL R. O'LEARY, A N D E D W A R D J. SCHAU Veterans Administration Hospital, Seattle, Washington
Summary.-The Locus of Control and Experienced Control scales were administered to 89 male alcoholics. Both correlational and difference data suggested an inverse relationship between alcoholics' perceived !ocus of control and the magnitude of control experienced in social situations. Alcoholics with an internal locus of control experienced a significantly greater magnitude of control over both interpersonal and intrapersonal sources of pressure or stress than did external alcoholics. The implications of these results with respect to psychosocial functioning and drinking behavior among alcoholic subgroups was discussed.
The issue of control orientation among alcoholics has received increased attention in recent psychological literature. This surge in research appears related to differential theoretical approaches to and confusion over drinking behavior wichin an alcoholic population. The points of view have ranged from the disease model of alcoholism (Jellinek, 1960) co a behavioral model based on principles of learning theory (Kepner, 1964; Miller & Barlow, 1973). In the former orientation, drinking behavior is explained as alcoholics' inability to set effective limits on alcohol consumption or as a "loss of control" phenomenon (Jellinek, 1960; Marconi, Fink, & Moya, 1967). The behavioral approach views drinking as an instrumentan response which is socially acquired and maintained by the reinforcing value of alcohol-induced modifications in social b e h a v i o r a n d affective state (Kepner, 1964; Miller & Barlow, 1973). Thus, certain forms of reinforcing consequences may be perceived by the alcoholic to be contingent upon his drinking behavior. Within this framework, the alcoholic may be described as having a certain degree of control over events in both his internal and social environment. Much of the research focusing on the control orientation among alcoholics has investigated perceived locus of control. This construct, assessed by Rotter's (1966) Locus of Control scale (I-E), provides a measure of the degree of responsibility an individual perceives himself to have over significant life events. Internal persons perceive that they have some influence or control over the outcome of life events as a result of their behavior; external individuals do not perceive such contingencies but rather perceive life events as controlled by external agents. The results of research comparing locus of control between alcoholics and nonalcoholics have been equivoca1.l However, wichin an alcoholic 'D. J. Rohsenow & M. R. O'Leary, Locus of control research on alcoholic populacions: a review. (Manuscript submitted for publication, 1975)
1172
D. M. DONOVAN, ET AL.
population, an external locus of control has been related to increased levels of psychopathology (Goss & Morosko, 1970; O'Leary, Donovan, & Hague, 1974a, 1974b). A related issue is the degree to which a person experiences himself to have control over internal and external sources of stress. Tiffany, Schontz, and Woll (1969) posit thac a person may experience himself as having control over intrapersonal and interpersonal pressures, or conversely, one may experience himself as being controlled by such forces. When the individual experiences himself in control of both internal and external sources of pressure, his behavior is described as self-directed; behavior that is motivated by either organismic or social forces is considered to be nonself-determined or impulsive (Tiffany & Tiffany, 1973). Although a state of balance is posited theoretically, control over interpersonal and intrapersonal pressures is indicative of higher levels of psychosocial adjustment (Tiffany, 1967). It appears that an internal locus of control and a high level of experienced control have a common, positive relationship with adaptive psychosocial and personality functioning (Joe, 1971; Tiffany, 1967). However, empirical studies of the relationship berween these two constructs of personal control have yielded minimal intercorrelations. Tiffany, Salkin, and Cowan ( 1970) correlated the I-Escores of 74 unemployed males with six measures of experienced control across 15 social situations. Only five of the 90 correlations were significant ( p < .05)and were assumed by the authors to have occurred by chance. However, the authors failed to investigate the correlations becween I-E scores and over-all mean scores of the six experienced control subscales. These latter mean scores would provide a more reliable measure of the magnitude of control experienced in social settings than the individual item scores employed. Costello and Manders (1974) found that an internal locus of control was significantly related to the experience of increased control over external forces among an alcoholic sample. The I-E scores failed to correlate with the degree of control experienced over internal sources of pressure or with the degree to which the individual felt conuolled by either interpersonal or intrapersonal stresses. These results, however, are of questionable reliability due co the relatively small sample size ( n = 28). The results are further confounded since the sample consisted of 14 alcoholics entering an inpatient rehabilitation program and 14 recovered alcoholics with a minimum of 3 yr. of sobriety who served as alcoholism counselors; of control. the two groups differed significantly in their perceived IOCLIS The purpose of the present scudy was to investigate further the relationship between measures of perceived locus of control and experienced control among alcoholics. It was hypothesized that alcoholics with an internal locus of control would experience a greater degree of control over internal and external pressures, as well as experience less control as exerted on them by such pressure, than externally scoring alcoholics.
CONTROL AMONG ALCOHOLICS
1173
METHOD Silb jects In the sample were 89 male veterans involved in an inpatient alcoholism treatment program. Ss had a mean age of 47.0 yr. (SD = 10.0) and a mean educational level of 12.0 yr. (SD = 2.6). All Ss had keen completely detoxified, and none were assessed to have organic brain syndrome or other major psychiatric diagnoses. Materials
Perceived locus of control was assessed by Rotter's (1966) I-E scale, scored in the external direction. The Experienced Control scale (Tiffany, 1967) measures the magnitude and locus of control a person experiences across a number of social settings. Four scores derived from the Experienced Control scale represent the magnitude of control experienced over internal pressures, from internal sources, over external pressures, and from external sources. Scores on each of these subscales may range from 0 to 100. Two ratios, expressed as natural logarithms, reflect respectively the relative degree of control experienced over internal, inuapersonal and external, social sources of pressure. Higher ratios are indicative of higher levels of adaptive behavior; lower ratios indicate a greater degree of impulsive behavior. The I-E and Experienced Control scales were administered as part of a larger battery of research tests approximately 1Y2 wk. following admission to treatment.
RESULTS It was hypothesized that an internal locus of control would be related to higher scores on the self-directed and lower scores on the non-self-directed factors of the Experienced Control scale. This hypothesis was partially supported. The I-E scale scores were significantly correlated ( p < .01) with control over internal pressures ( r = - 3 9 ) and external pressures ( r = -.33) scales on the Experienced Control. However, no significant relationships were found between the locus of control scores and control from internal sources ( 7 = -.09) or external sources ( 7 = .16) scores on the Experienced Control scale. The I-E scores also correlated significantly in the predicted direction with the ratios indicating the proportionate degree of control experienced over internal, intrapersonal sources of pressure ( r = -.25, p < .05)and over external, interpersonal sources ( r = -.34, p < .01). The sample was divided into Internal ( n = 46) and External ( n = 43) groups on the basis of a median split on the I-E scale score distribution ( M d n = 6.5). The means and standard deviations on the Experienced Control subscales for the two groups are found in Table 1. The internal scorers experienced significantly more control ( P < .01) over both intrapersonal and interpersonal
D. M. DONOVAN, ET AL.
1174
TABLE 1
MEANS,STANDARD DEVIATIONS, AND t TESTS FOR INTERNAL A N D EXTERNAL ON MEASURES OF EXPERIENCED CONTROL ALCOHOLICS I-E Group
Over Internal
From Internal
Experienced Control Variables Over From Internal External External Ratio -
-
-
-
External Ratio
- --
-
Internal
M SD External M
SD t
*p
