Perceived Control
Subtitle
Theory, Research, and Practice in the First 50 Years
The concept of the "locus of control" is one of the most influential in all of the psychological sciences. Initially proposed by Julian Rotter in 1966, the year 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of this remarkable breakthrough, subsequently inspiring thousands of research studies in the human sciences — research that has only served to deepen the utility of this amazing concept.
Edited by John W. Reich and Frank J. Infurna, "Perceived Control: Theory, Research, and Practice in the First 50 Years" commemorates this important anniversary by featuring contributions from leading figures of the time — some of whom were there at the very beginning of Rotter's extraordinary breakthrough — to give readers a valuable historical record and measuring stick to illustrate how far we've come. Other contributors to this volume expertly present contemporary and cutting-edge summaries of the current state of our knowledge all while giving us a roadmap for future developments and directions. What have these developments revealed about basic human strengths and capacities? Why has this concept proven so remarkably effective in illuminating our everyday life in sickness and health?
"Perceived Control" is a fascinating work that incorporates research from Rotter's original concept, and addresses many of the leading comparable concepts that have since evolved: self-efficacy, personal mastery, competence, primary and secondary control, and more specific topics such as health locus of control, learned helplessness, and other heuristic concepts discussed in many different fields of psychology and the allied disciplines.
Bios
John W. Reich<strong> </strong>is an emeritus professor of psychology at Arizona State University. His career is devoted to teaching and research in personality and social psychology.
Frank J. Infurna is an assistant professor of psychology at Arizona State University. He is a developmental psychologist whose research examines resilience to major life stressors.
Praise for this book
'Perceived Control' brings together a stellar group of distinguished control researchers who provide a state-of-the-art look at 50 years of control research. This volume provides a comprehensive review of the perceived control area that is comprised of many constructs including learned helplessness, locus of control, primary and secondary control, and self-e cacy. This book is an important reference for researchers, students, and others who are interested in the topic of perceived control.
Paul Spector Distinguished Professor, Department of Psychology, University of South Florida
'Perceived Control' is one of the most influential constructs in the history of psychology and I'm delighted to see it honored in this new compendium of papers. The editors have done a fine job in selecting contributors who show that perceived control set the stage for the development of a constellation of related constructs. The construct of perceived control is alive and well.
Delroy Paulhus Professor, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia
