Locus of control in prison inmates

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to collect normative data on two Internal-External Locus of Control (I-E) Scales (Levenson's I-E Scale and the Adult Nowicki-Strickland Scale), using samples of both male and female inmate populations. It was hypothesized that 1) prison inmates will be at least as external (as measured by the I-E control scales) as college students and community adults, and more so with respect to the beliefs that powerful others and chance control their lives; 2) that black inmates, as well as inmates belonging to other minority groups, will be more external than white inmates; 3) that inmates with low educational levels will be more external than those with higher educational levels (lower vesus middle or upper class environments); and 4) that inmates who have been in prison for long periods of time will be more external than those who have been in prison for a shorter time period, at least on the powerful others dimension. These data will provide support of past studies and provide new normative data on these I-E scales to be used in future studies. Since externality is associated with maladjustment and marginal groups, confirmation of the above hypothesis will provide a rationale for treatment. This normative data can further be used to assess various treatment methods by providing baseline figures for comparison purposes.