Personal and Ideological Aspects of Internal and External Control

Factor analysis ofRotter's I-E Scale on a national probability sample replicates the distinction between personal control and control ideology that has been noted in previous studies of restricted samples. Discriminant validity is also demonstrated. Personal control, but not control ideology, is related to higher socioeconomic status and to mastery efforts in the personal life arenas where individual effort can have some effect. In predicting political behavior, the distinction is crucial among groups that question the status quo: personal control is unrelated to political behavior, while an external control ideology is related to greater political participation. Results for political conservatives are consistent with Rotter's original conception: internality on both personal control and control ideology is related to greater political participation. The assumption of unidimensionality that underlies the concept and measure of I-E is seen as reflecting a conservative view that links personal competence and effort to the beliefthat the system isjust in its allocation ofrewards. Implications are drawn for the interpretation of previous I-E research and for further changes in conceptualization and measurement.