Cultural contributions to constructing locus-of-control attributions.
Locus of control attribution patterns have been demonstrated to predict a variety of behavioral and adaptational characteristics in a number of societies. As a consequence, questions concerning the comparability of those attributions across cultures have been of interest to social and personality theorists as well as to their more action-oriented colleagues. In the present study, the processes used by Indian college students to form those attributions have been studied and compared with those used by a similar sample in the United States. A structure-factor approach was used, because it allowed for a comparison of attribution patterns within and between cultures as well as the drawing of inferences about locus-of-control attributions that are theoretically and practically important. Results supported the utility of such an approach, identified culturally syntonic patterns in both samples, and also identified cross-cultural similarities and differences in locus-of-control attributions.
Department on Psychology, University of Maryland.
F B
FB
Tyler
N
N
Dhawan
Y
Y
Sinha
D000124:Achievement; D000328:Adult; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007389:Internal-External Control; D010553:Personality Development; D010556:Personality Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D014481:United States