Orienting responses and locus of control.
Few studies have attempted to relate the locus of control (Rotter, 1966) variable to physiological activity. This paper describes the heart-rate and skin conductance responses of 40 subjects exposed to a series of auditory stimuli, in relation to their locus of control scores. It was found that those scoring relatively 'externally' on the locus of control scale gave less decelerative and more accelerative heart-rate responses and tended to give larger skin conductance responses when there was a change in stimulus characteristics, than those scoring 'internally'. These results may be interpreted to support Lazarus' (1966) suggestions that control over a situation lessens the threat perceived in that situation. They also indicate that internal subjects tend to seek information to increase their control.
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009949:Orientation; D013017:Sound Localization