Locus of control and attitudes toward large carnivores.
It has been hypothesized tha the negative attitudes toward carnivores found among rural groups is only one element embedded in a larger sociopolitical complex of disputes over resource use and rural development. Negative attitudes may reflect a protest against increased control of land use by central political authorities. In a survey among sheep farmers, wildlife managers, and research biologists in Norway we found that the sheep farmers expressed an external locus of control, indicating a belief that external forces control events, relative to the two other groups. Among sheep farmers and research biologists a positive association was found between an external locus of control and negative attitudes toward large carnivores.
Bjerke
T
T
Lillehammer College, Norway. tore.bjerke@hil.no
Vittersø
J
J
Kaltenborn
B P
BP
D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D001290:Attitude; D002335:Carnivora / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D012424:Rural Population; D012756:Sheep