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The effects of structured and unstructured leader roles on internal and external group participants
Author(s) -
Kilmann Peter R.,
Sotile Wayne M.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/1097-4679(197610)32:4<848::aid-jclp2270320427>3.0.co;2-e
Subject(s) - locus of control , psychology , anxiety , developmental psychology , social psychology , clinical psychology , psychiatry
This study assessed the impact of structured and unstructured leader roles on measures of outcome for S s who differed on the pretest dimension “locus of control.” On the basis of their pretest locus of control scores, S s were assigned to a structured or an unstructured marathon group. The treatment in the two 16‐hour marathons consisted of a defined series of exercises; the only difference between the two groups was the degree of leader control over member participation. As predicted, internal Ss in the unstructured group rated the leader and the group more positively than did external S s, while the reverse responsivity occured in the structured group. Significant Locus of Control × Treatment interactions indicated that internal and external S s reflected differential shifts in general anxiety, general depression, and locus of control as a function of treatment. The relationship between changes in self‐actualization and locus of control and changes in conflict‐handling styles and negative affects differed as a function of locus of control and treatment condition. The overall results coupled with prior findings tentatively support the appropriateness of an unstructured leader role for internal scorers and a structured leader role for external scorers.