Locus of control and the preference for directive or nondirective therapeutic techniques in a military personnel population

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between locus of control and psychotherapy preference and the variables of rank (employment and income levels), education level, age, race, and sex on a population outside of students and clinical or institutional patients. Also, the researcher sought to identify variables in order to maximize a therapist's ability to predict individual therapeutic preferences.

Eighty-three military personnel; 41 noncommissioned personnel and 42 officers, participated. The sample was chosen randomly from a population of approximately 500 enlisted personnel and 600 officers.

Two measuring instruments were used: Rotter's (1966) Internal-External Locus of Control Scale and Clum's (1981) Psychotherapy Preference Questionnaire.

Several hypotheses were tested. Significant results were obtained in the hypotheses addressing the difference of scores for psychotherapy preference between rank categories (employment and income levels) and racial categories.

Insignificant results were obtained in the hypotheses addressing the difference in locus of control orientation between rank categories (employment and income levels) and education categories; the difference of scores for psychotherapy preference between education levels; and the relationship between scores on the locus of control and psychotherapy preference scales.