An examination of the relationship between locus of control and violent, non-violent, and sexual offenders.

Abstract

External locus of control has been identified as a personality variable that is problematic to successful completion of parole by parolees. To examine the relationship between locus of control and parolees, three groups of volunteer parolees were used in this study. The groups were divided according to type of offense as defined by the Kansas Department of Corrections: violent (crimes against persons), non-violent (crimes against properties and included in this category possession of controlled substances and or paraphernalia), and sexual (any crime involving sexual assault or misconduct). The participants were currently on parole in the Northern Parole Region of Kansas. Seventy-five male participants (25 violent, 25 nonviolent, and 25 sexual) whose mean ages were 33.7 were given the Rotter Locus of Control Scale. No groups significantly differed from each other with regard to locus of control using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). All groups scored toward the internal end of the locus of control continuum.