Nothing Special   »   [go: up one dir, main page]
Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Desire for control, perception of control: their impact on autonomous motivation and psychological adjustment

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Motivation and Emotion Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of the present research was to test the relevance of a theoretical framework based on the matches and the mismatches between desire for control and perception of control (Evans et al. in Br J Psychol 84(2):255–273, 1993), in order to predict autonomous motivation (Deci and Ryan in Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. Plenum, New York, 1985, 2012), depression, and anxiety (Bradley in Handbook of psychology and diabetes: A guide to psychological measurement in diabetes research and practice. Harwood Academic Press, Chur, 1994; Bruchon-Schweitzer in Psychologie de la Santé: Modèles, concepts et méthodes. Dunod, Paris, 2002). Two prospective studies were run among undergraduate students. Results of Study 1 confirmed the relevance of Evans et al.’s (in Br J Psychol 84(2):255–273, 1993) theoretical framework. More specifically, four clusters reflecting different levels of desire for control and perception of control were found. Moreover, results revealed that profiles characterized by high scores on both desire for control and perception of control were more autonomously motivated than those characterized by the three other possible combinations. Results of Study 2 replicated those of Study 1 and showed that participants combining a low desire for control and a high perception of control were the less depressed, followed by participants with high scores on both measures. No significant effects were found for anxiety.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. The SOC-Scale which assesses the PC in those three spheres of life has been identified as a better tool than the Rotter’s I-E Locus of Control Scale to explain psychological adjustment (Tetrault and Alain 1999).

  2. Our PC measure assesses to some extent the LOC (the more individual perceives control in the personal sphere, the more their attributional style is internal).

References

  • Adler, A. (1930). Individual psychology. In C. Murchinson (Ed.), Psychologies of 1930. Worcester, MA: Clark University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alain, M. (1989). Traduction française de l’échelle de désir de contrôle. [French traduction of the desire for control scale.]. Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières.

  • Altintas, E., & Guerrien, A. (2012). Profil motivationnel et bien-être psychologique dans l’âge avancé. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science/Revue Canadienne des Sciences du Comportement. doi:10.1037/a0027239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Amoura, C., Berjot, S., & Gillet, N. (2013). Desire for control: Its effect on needs satisfaction and autonomous motivation. International Review of Social Psychology/Revue Internationale de Psychologie Sociale, 26(2), 55–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Archambault, I., Eccles, J. S., & Vida, M. N. (2010). Ability self-concepts and subjective value in literacy: Joint trajectories from grades 1 through 12. Journal of Educational Psychology, 102(4), 804–816. doi:10.1037/a0021075.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Averill, J. R. (1973). Personal control over aversive stimuli and its relationship to stress. Psychological Bulletin, 80(4), 286–303. doi:10.1037/h0034845.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1977). Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychological Review, 84(2), 191–215. doi:10.1037/0033-295x.84.2.191.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1995). Self efficacy in changing societies. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York: W. H. Freeman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck, A. T. (1972). The phenomena of depression: A synthesis. In D. Offer & D. X. Freeman (Eds.), Modern psychiatry and clinical research. New York: NY: Basic Books.

  • Berjot, S., & Girault-Lidvan, N. (2009). Validation d’une version française de l’échelle d’évaluation cognitive primaire de Brewer et Skinner. [Validation of a French version of the Cognitive Appraisal Scale (Trait) by Brewer and Skinner.] Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science/Revue Canadienne des Sciences du Comportement, 41(4), 252–259. doi:10.1037/a0014842.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biddle, S. J. H. (1999). Motivation and its perceptions of control: Tracing its development and plotting its future in exercise and sport psychology. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 21(1), 1–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradley, C. (1994). The well-being questionnaire. In C. Bradley (Ed.), Handbook of psychology and diabetes: A guide to psychological measurement in diabetes research and practice. Chur: Harwood Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brault-Labbé, A., & Dubé, L. (2010). Engagement scolaire, bien-être personnel et autodétermination chez des étudiants à l’université. [School engagement, personal well-being and self-determination in university students.]. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 42(2), 80–92. doi:10.1037/a0017385.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brouillard, A., Lapierre, S., & Alain, M. (1999). Le bonheur et ses relations avec le désir de contrôle et la perception de contrôle. Revue Québécoise de Psychologie, 20(2), 223–240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruchon-Schweitzer, M. (2002). Psychologie de la Santé: Modèles, concepts et méthodes. Paris: Dunod.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burger, J. M. (1984). Desire for control, locus of control, and proneness to depression. Journal of Personality, 52(1), 71–89. doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.1984.tb00551.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Burger, J. M. (1992). Desire for control: Personality, social, and clinical perspectives. New York: Plenum Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Burger, J. M., & Cooper, H. M. (1979). The desirability of control. Motivation and Emotion, 3(4), 381–393. doi:10.1007/bf00994052.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christensen, A. J., Turner, C. W., Smith, T. W., Holman, J. M., & Gregory, M. C. (1991). Health locus of control and depression in end-stage renal disease. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59(3), 419–424. doi:10.1037/0022-006x.59.3.419.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Clark, L. A., & Watson, D. (1991). Tripartite model of anxiety and depression: Psychometric evidence and taxonomic implications. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 100(3), 316–336. doi:10.1037/0021-843X.100.3.316.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • deCharms, R. C. (1968). Personal causation: The internal affective determinants of behavior. New York: Academic Press.

  • Deci, E. L. (1975). Intrinsic motivation. New York: Plenum Press.

  • Deci, E. L., Koestner, R., & Ryan, R. M. (1999). A meta-analytic review of experiments examining the effects of extrinsic rewards on intrinsic motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 125(6), 627–700.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. New York: Plenum.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Deci, E. L., Vallerand, R. J., Pelletier, L. G., & Ryan, R. M. (1991). Motivation and education: The self-determination perspective. Educational Psychologist, 26(3–4), 325–346. doi:10.1080/00461520.1991.9653137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2012). Motivation, personality, and development within embedded social contexts: An overview of self-determination theory. In R. M. Ryan (Ed.), Oxford handbook of human motivation (pp. 85–107). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, G. W., Shapiro, D. H., & Lewis, M. A. (1993). Specifying dysfunctional mismatches between different control dimensions. British Journal of Psychology, 84(2), 255–273. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8295.1993.tb02478.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garant, V., & Alain, M. (1992). Traduction française de l’échelle S.O.C (Spheres of Control). Document inédit. Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières.

  • Garant, V., & Alain, M. (1995). Perception de contrôle, désir de contrôle et santé psychologique. [Perception of control, desire for control, and psychological health.]. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 27(3), 251–267. doi:10.1037/0008-400x.27.3.251.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gillet, N., Berjot, S., & Paty, E. (2010). Profils motivationnels et ajustement au travail: Vers une approche intra-individuelle de la motivation. Le Travail Humain, 73(2), 141–162. doi:10.3917/th.732.0141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gillet, N., Berjot, S., Vallerand, R. J., Amoura, C., & Rosnet, E. (2012). Examining the motivation-performance relationship in competitive sport: A cluster-analytic approach. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 43(2), 79–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gore, P. (2000). Cluster analysis. In H. E. A. Tinsley & S. D. Brown (Eds.), Handbook of applied multivariate statistics and mathematical modeling (pp. 297–321). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Grolnick, W. S., & Ryan, R. M. (1987). Autonomy in children’s learning: An experimental and individual difference investigation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 890–898.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hair, J. F. J., Anderson, R. E., Tatham, R. L., & Black, W. C. (1998). Multivariate data analysis with readings (5th ed.). Englewoods Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henry, D. B., Tolan, P. H., & Gorman-Smith, D. (2005). Cluster analysis in family psychology research. Journal of Family Psychology, 19(1), 121–132. doi:10.1037/0893-3200.19.1.121.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Joussemet, M., Koestner, R., Lekes, N., & Houlfort, N. (2004). Introducing uninteresting tasks to children: A comparison of the effects of rewards and autonomy support. Journal of Personality, 72(1), 139–166. doi:10.1111/j.0022-3506.2004.00259.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Legrain, P., Paquet, Y., D’Arripe-Longueville, F., & Philippe, R. A. (2011). Influence of desirability for control on instructional interactions and intrinsic motivation in a sport peer tutoring setting. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 42, 68–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Otis, N., & Pelletier, L. G. (2005). A motivational model of daily hassles, physical symptoms, and future work intentions among police officers. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 35(10), 2193–2214. doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.2005.tb02215.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paulhus, D. L. (1983). Sphere-specific measures of perceived control. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 44(6), 1253–1265. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.44.6.1253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paulhus, D. L., & Christie, R. (1981). Spheres of control: An interactionist approach to assessment of perceived control. In H. M. Lefcourt (Ed.), Research with the locus of control construct (Vol. 1.): Assessment methods (pp. 161–188). New York: Academic Press.

  • Paulhus, D. L., & Van Selst, M. (1990). The spheres of control scale: 10 years of research. Personality and Individual Differences, 11(10), 1029–1036. doi:10.1016/0191-8869(90)90130-j.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ratelle, C. F., Guay, F., Vallerand, R. J., Larose, S., & Senécal, C. (2007). Autonomous, controlled, and amotivated types of academic motivation: A person-oriented analysis. Journal of Educational Psychology, 99(4), 734–746. doi:10.1037/0022-0663.99.4.734.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reeve, J. (2009). Why teachers adopt a controlling motivating style toward students and how they can become more autonomy supportive. Educational Psychologist, 44(3), 159–175. doi:10.1080/00461520903028990.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rotter, J. B. (1966). Generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement. Psychological Monograph, 80, 1–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rotter, J. B. (1992). Some comments on the “Cognates of personal control”. Applied and Preventive Psychology, 1(2), 127–129. doi:10.1016/S0962-1849(05)80154-4.

  • Ryan, R. M., & Connell, J. P. (1989). Perceived locus of causality and internalization: Examining reasons for acting in two domains. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(5), 749–761. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.57.5.749.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55(1), 68–78. doi:10.1037/0003-066x.55.1.68.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ryff, C. D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(6), 1069–1081. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.57.6.1069.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schwarz, G. (1978). Estimating the dimension of a model. The Annals of Statistics, 6, 461–464.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seligman, M. E. P. (1975). Helplessness: On depression development, and death. San Francisco: W. H. Freeman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seligman, M. E. P., Abramson, L. Y., Semmel, A., & von Baeyer, C. (1979). Depressive attributional style. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 88(3), 242–247. doi:10.1037/0021-843X.88.3.242.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Skinner, E. A. (1996). A guide to constructs of control. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 71(3), 549–570.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Soenens, B., Sierens, E., Vansteenkiste, M., Dochy, F., & Goossens, L. (2012). Psychologically controlling teaching: Examining outcomes, antecedents, and mediators. Journal of Educational Psychology, 104(1), 108–120. doi:10.1037/a0025742.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stephan, Y., Boiché, J., & Le Scanff, C. (2010). Motivation and physical activity behaviors among older women: A self-determination perspective. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 34(3), 339–348. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.2010.01579.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tetrault, C., & Alain, M. (1999). Différenciation des concepts de perception et de lieu de contrôle en relation avec le désir de contrôle sur l’anxiété et la dépression. Revue Internationale de Psychologie Sociale/International Review of Social Psychology, 12(2), 47–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, E. P. (1990). Individual difference moderators of extrinsic reward effects: A person X situation approach to the study of intrinsic motivation process. Unpublished master’s thesis. New York: New York University.

  • Thompson, S. C. (2009). The role of personal control in adaptative functioning In C. R. Snyder & S. J. Lopez (Eds.), Oxford handbook of positive psychology (pp. 271–278). Oxford: Oxford Library of Psychology.

  • Thompson, S. C., & Schlehofer, M. M. (2008). Control, denial, and heightened sensitivity reactions to personal threat: Testing the generalizability of the threat orientation approach. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 34(8), 1070–1083. doi:10.1177/0146167208318403.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, S. C., & Spacapan, S. (1991). Perceptions of control in vulnerable populations. Journal of Social Issues, 47(4), 1–21. doi:10.1111/j.1540-4560.1991.tb01831.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tryon, R. C., & Bailey, D. E. (1970). Cluster analysis. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vallerand, R. J. (1997). Toward a hierarchical model of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. In M. P. Zanna (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (pp. 271–360). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vallerand, R. J., Blais, M. R., Brière, N. M., & Pelletier, L. G. (1989). Construction et validation de l’échelle de motivation en éducation (EME). [Construction and validation of the Motivation toward Education Scale.]. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science/Revue Canadienne des Sciences du Comportement, 21(3), 323–349. doi:10.1037/h0079855.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vallerand, R. J., Pelletier, L. G., Blais, M. R., Brière, N. M., Senécal, C. B., & Vallières, E. F. (1993). On the assessment of intrinsic, extrinsic, and amotivation in education: Evidence on the concurrent and construct validity of the Academic Motivation Scale. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 53(1), 159–172. doi:10.1177/0013164493053001018.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van den Broeck, A., Vansteenkiste, M., De Witte, H., Soenens, B., & Lens, W. (2010). Capturing autonomy, competence, and relatedness at work: Construction and initial validation of the Work-related Basic Need Satisfaction scale. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 83(4), 981–1002. doi:10.1348/096317909x481382.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White, R. W. (1959). Motivation reconsidered: The concept of competence. Psychological Review, 66(5), 297–333. doi:10.1037/h0040934.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfradt, U., Hempel, S., & Miles, J. N. V. (2003). Perceived parenting styles, depersonalisation, anxiety and coping behaviour in adolescents. Personality and Individual Differences, 34(3), 521–532. doi:10.1016/S0191-8869(02)00092-2.

  • Wortman, C. B., & Brehm, J. W. (1975). Responses to uncontrollable outcomes: An integration of reactance theory and the learned helplessness model. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 8). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thanks Lenoir François-Régis (Puzzle Concept), Amoura Kahina and Lesseur Nicolas for their help.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire Cognition Santé Socialisation, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne (URCA), UFR Lettres et Sciences Humaines Bâtiment 13, RDC haut, R238 57 rue Pierre Taittinger, 51 096, Reims Cedex, France

    Camille Amoura & Sophie Berjot

  2. Laboratoire des Ages de la Vie, Université François Rabelais, Tours, France

    Nicolas Gillet

  3. Laboratoire PSITEC, Université de Lille Nord de France, Villeneuve d’Ascq, Lille 3, France

    Emin Altintas

Authors
  1. Camille Amoura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sophie Berjot
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nicolas Gillet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Emin Altintas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Camille Amoura.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Amoura, C., Berjot, S., Gillet, N. et al. Desire for control, perception of control: their impact on autonomous motivation and psychological adjustment. Motiv Emot 38, 323–335 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-013-9379-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-013-9379-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation