Locus of control and extreme behavior.

Explored the relationship between locus of control and extreme behavior in regard to risk taking, persistence, shifts in level of aspiration, and estimation of success. 173 high school freshmen girls completed Rotter's Internal-External Control Scale and a questionnaire assessing extreme behavior. Analysis of the data indicate that external Ss, as opposed to internal Ss, were characterized by a preference for extreme risks, low persistence, and atypical shifts in level of aspiration; they were more extreme in their estimation of success when responding to items related to academic, occupational, and cognitive activities. The findings, along with an integration of the literature are related to several methodological and theoretical issues. (22 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)