Counternormative Behavior and Locus of Control

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Abstract
Persons taking actions aimed at self-improvement, in cultural contexts where such actions are counternormative, should show differences in locus of control when contrasted with persons for whom such actions are not counternormative. Two studies tested this hypothesis. The first contrasted locus of control scores between 109 Mexican and 61 American male and female business administration students. The second contrasted locus of control scores between 67 male and female American Liberal Arts students who were economically disadvantaged and 226 such students who were not so disadvantaged. In both Mexican and economically disadvantaged Liberal Arts groups, pursuit of such educational goals was markedly more counternormative for women. In each study, women in the counternormative group showed stronger rejection of control by powerful others or chance than did Ss in a context where such action was not equally counter-normative.