Internal-External Control Orientation, Self-Description, and Bridge Playing Expertise

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between expertise in bridge playing, the degree to which the individual believes that luck or fate determine his success and self-description. Ss, 46 males and 24 females participating in a national bridge tournament, were administered Rotter's I-E scale and the Adjective Check List (ACL). Correlations of I-E scores and degree of expertness showed that the more expert males were significantly less external, indicating that they perceive bridge as much more a game of skill rather than chance. No significant correlation was found for the group of female bridge players, perhaps due to the smaller number of Ss and the greater degree of homogeneity in the group. On the ACL male experts perceived themselves as more controlled and optimistic toward life and their ability to cope with it. Female experts seemed to regard themselves as more assertive and self-confident than their less expert confreres and as having a more risk-taking life orientation. Correlations of the ACL and I-E scores indicated in general that the more internally oriented person had a more positive self-concept.