HABIT-SPECIFIC LOCUS OF CONTROL SCALES FOR DRINKING, SMOKING, AND EATING

The internal consistencies of three habit-specific locus of control sc ales measuring drinking, smoking, and eating behavior were evaluated u sing coefficient alpha. The three scales, along with Rotter's I-E scal e, were administered to 202 undergraduate students. Estimates indicate d the scales showed reasonably high internal consistency. Scores on th e smoking and drinking scales had the lowest correlations with scores on Rotter's generalized measure. Mean drinking scale scores were lower than those for smoking and eating, suggesting that people judge drink ing to be under more personal control. The implications of habit-speci fic expectancies, particularly with regard to habit disorders, are dis cussed.