1. Rotter Internal versus External locus of control.

2. Methodology... A review article Initially six pieces of research into individual perceptions of ability to control outcomes based on reinforcement. Sample...

3. Findings... Rotter found that results from the studies reviewed, consistently showed that participants who felt they had control over the situation were more likely to show behaviours that would enable then to cope with potential threats. Than participants who thought that chance of other non-controllable forces determined the effects of their behaviours.

4. Conclusions... Rotter concluded that locus of control would affect many of our behaviours, not just health behaviours. He included in his article a summary of research by James et al. (1965), which found that male smokers who gave up and did not relapse had a higher level of internal locus of control than those who did not quit smoking. Interestingly, there was not a significant difference for female smokers, indicating that factors such as weight gain were influential in giving up smoking.