THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOCUS OF CONTROL AND TYPE OF AGGRESSION IN MIDDLE-CLASS AND CULTURALLY DEPRIVED CHILDREN

This research deals with the relationship between locus of control and aggressive reactions to frustrating situations in middle-class and culturally deprived children. The underlying assumption was that two types of aggression may be manifested on confrontation with a frustrating situation: (1) 'negative', or non-constructive aggression, whose purpose is to harm and destroy; (2) 'positive' aggression, whose direction and purpose are to build, despite the fact that it may begin with destruction. It was hypothesized that subjects with internal locus of control would react to frustration with 'positive' aggression more frequently than would subjects with external locus of control, that deprived children would respond with 'negative' aggression more frequently than would middle-class children, and that the latter would respond with 'positive' aggression more frequently than would the former. In addition, the influence of social status and sex on the relationship between locus of control and aggression was examined. The results support the hypothesis regarding the relationship between locus of control and type of aggressive response. No significant relationship was found between social status or sex and type of aggressive response to frustration. © 1990.