ABSTRACT
A quick perusal of the previous chapters makes it evident that the perception of control is not a provincial concern. Learning theorists with interests in the investigation of fear and stress, social psychologists who experiment with attribution processes, and clinical psychologists attempting to cope with their patients* helplessness and lack of confidence have all contributed to the growing literature dealing with the perception of control. The largest body of empirical data about perceived control, however, derives from Julian Rotter's social learning theory. It is in Rotter's theory that perceived control occupies a central place within a systematic formulation. Although only a brief description of Rotter's views will be presented here, several books and articles contain detailed discussions of his theory (Rotter, 1954, 1955, 1960, 1971; Rotter, Chance & Phares, 1972).
