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Dogmatism, locus of control, and life goals in stable and unstable marriages
Author(s) -
Mlott Sylvester R.,
Lira Frank T.
Publication year - 1977
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(197701)33:1+<142::aid-jclp2270330129>3.0.co;2-o
Subject(s) - spouse , psychology , locus of control , social psychology , scale (ratio) , independence (probability theory) , developmental psychology , control (management) , california psychological inventory , personality , personality assessment inventory , sociology , statistics , physics , mathematics , management , quantum mechanics , anthropology , economics
This study hypothesized that individuals in unstable marriages were more dogmatic, more externally controlled, and evidenced more dissimilarity in life‐motivating goals than those in stable marriages. Two groups of 22 married couples (designated married‐stable and married‐unstable) were administered the Rokeach Dogmatism Scale, the Rotter I‐E Scale, and the Hahn California Life Goals Evaluation Schedules. Although results did not support any of the three hyptheses stated, the findings led to three significant conclusions. First, dogmatic traits that were expected to be predominant in unstable marriages actually were seen as a stabilizing factor when demonstrated by the female spouse. Second, wives in unstable marriages demonstrated greater external locus of control than their husbands. Third, dissimilarities in life goals do not necessarily contribute to marital discordance, but actually are associated with marital stability unless they include the motivational areas of leadership and independence.