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Locus of Control and Addictive Behaviour

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Addictive Behaviour: Molecules to Mankind

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Abstract

The locus of control (LOC) construct1 represents an enduring approach to the investigation of personality, it being a fundamental part of social learning theory.2 It has also been used widely in the clinical field to investigate many examples of psychopathology including those purportedly involved in addictive behaviour.3 In this chapter we shall address, amongst others, the following questions:

  1. 1.

    Where does the LOC construct come from?

  2. 2.

    How useful is the LOC construct in understanding the complexity of human behaviour?

  3. 3.

    In clinical terms, how useful is the LOC construct in predicting an individuals future behaviour?

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Notes

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Authors
  1. Colin Martin
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  2. Catherine Otter
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Addictive Behaviour Centre Roehampton Institute, London, UK

    Adrian Bonner (Director) (Director)

  2. School of Biological Sciences, School of Human Biology, University of Manchester, UK

    James Waterhouse (Senior Research Fellow, Lecturer in Physiology) (Senior Research Fellow, Lecturer in Physiology)

Copyright information

© 1996 Adrian Bonner and James Waterhouse

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Cite this chapter

Martin, C., Otter, C. (1996). Locus of Control and Addictive Behaviour. In: Bonner, A., Waterhouse, J. (eds) Addictive Behaviour: Molecules to Mankind. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-24657-1_8

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