Does Authority Generalize? Locus of Control Perceptions in Anglo-American and Mexican-American Adolescents

Abstract

locus of control in various life situations, this research creates and tests four new locus of control measures. These include measures of the perceived locus of control in national politics as well as control perceptions relative to parents, teachers, and peers. The new measure of the locus of control (political I-E) appears more reliable than the subset of Rotter items termed the political factor. The various measures are tested using a sample of Anglo-American and Mexican-American adolescents. The perceived locus of control in relations with parents was found to be positively associated with control perceptions relative to teachers although not to peers. However, the belief that government responds to 'people like me is unaffected by one's personal efficacy in the home.