Prison Locus of Control Scale (P-LOC)

Description

The Prison Locus of Control Scale (P-LOC) is a psychometric instrument designed to assess locus of control among prison populations. Locus of control refers to an individual’s perception of the degree of control they have over their own life and surrounding circumstances.

Within correctional populations, locus of control may influence psychological well-being, behavior during incarceration, and adaptation following release into society.

The P-LOC is particularly relevant for forensic psychology, correctional rehabilitation, mental health assessment, and research examining psychological adjustment among incarcerated individuals.

Objective

The primary objective of the P-LOC is to measure whether inmates perceive control over their lives as originating mainly from internal or external sources.

An internal locus of control reflects the belief that personal actions and decisions influence life outcomes, whereas an external locus of control reflects the belief that outcomes are determined mainly by external circumstances or other forces.

The results can assist psychologists, social workers, and correctional professionals in understanding inmates’ perceptions and designing interventions aimed at improving mental health and supporting reintegration into society.

Structure and Content

The P-LOC consists of a series of questions or statements assessing inmates’ perceptions of control over their lives inside and outside prison.

The scale evaluates two main dimensions:

Internal Locus of Control, referring to the belief that individuals have personal influence over events and outcomes.

External Locus of Control, referring to the belief that control is determined by external factors, circumstances, or other people.

Scoring

The P-LOC uses a Likert-type response scale, for example:

1 = Not at all
5 = Very much

Responses are summed to calculate total scores representing internal or external locus of control.

Scores are interpreted by comparison with normative data in order to determine whether an inmate demonstrates a predominantly internal or external locus of control orientation.

Data Analysis and Use

The P-LOC provides quantitative information regarding inmates’ perceptions of personal control.

The collected data can be used to investigate relationships between locus of control and important correctional outcomes, including prison behavior, mental health characteristics, and adaptation after release.

The scale may support psychological assessment, rehabilitation planning, and research on factors associated with successful social reintegration.

Statistical Analysis

Statistical analysis of P-LOC results includes score calculation and interpretation based on normative comparisons.

Further analyses may examine associations between locus of control and variables such as behavioral adjustment in prison, psychological functioning, and post-release adaptation.

Comparative analyses may also be conducted between different groups of inmates to explore variations in perceived control.

Validity

The validity of the P-LOC is supported through studies conducted with inmate samples to establish normative data and evaluate the appropriateness of the instrument for correctional populations.

The scale is theoretically based on Rotter’s concept of internal versus external control of reinforcement, which provides the foundation for measuring individual perceptions of control.

Reliability

The reliability of the P-LOC is evaluated through studies involving inmate samples, where scores are standardized to allow reliable comparisons across different populations and groups of inmates.

References

Rotter, J. B. (1966). Generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement. Psychological Monographs: General and Applied, 80(1), 1–28.

Gendreau, P., & Archer, J. A. (1974). The Locus of Control of Prison Inmates. Journal of Criminal Justice, 2(4), 303–310.

Lefcourt, H. M. (1982). Locus of Control: Current Trends in Theory and Research. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Fisher, S., & Morin, K. (1980). The relationship between locus of control and health among juvenile delinquents. Adolescence, 15(58), 399–412.