Association between Levenson's Dimensions of Locus of Control and Measures of Coping and Defense Mechanisms

Abstract

Theoretically, locus of control may be related to coping and defense style. Because little is known about specific relationships, scores on Levenson's Chance, Powerful Others, and Internal control scales were correlated with 20 coping and defense measures for a sample of 2648 Marine Corps recruits. The findings suggested that the relationship of locus of control with coping and defense could be described in terms of two integrated personality styles. The external style combines external control orientations with low coping skills and externalizing defenses, e.g., displacement. The internal style combines internal control with minimizing, reversing defenses, and more extensive coping. These styles received some support from prior research and may help explain the association between better over-all adjustment and internality. These tentative style formulations can provide a basis for more detailed investigations of control and coping and defense.