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Abstract

This study investigated whether external locus of control, as measured with the Rotter Internal-External Locus of Control Scale, is a specific feature of agoraphobia or whether it characterizes neurosis in general. Forty agoraphobic patients, 81 nonagoraphobic neurotic controls, and 49 normal controls completed the Dutch version of the Rotter Internal-External Locus of Control Scale. Agoraphobic patients were found to have a more external orientation as compared to the normal controls, but as a group, they could not be identified as being different from neurotic controls.

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This study was supported in part by a grant from the Dutch Organization for Fundamental Research (ZWO/Psychon 560-268-001).

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van der Molen, G.M., van den Hout, M.A. & Halfens, R. Agoraphobia and Locus of Control. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 10, 269–275 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00962550

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00962550

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