LOCUS OF CONTROL IN YOUNG-ADULTS IN RUSSIA AND THE UNITED-STATES

A comparison of scores on perceived relative economic status and locus of control was made between young adults in Russia and in the United States prior to the fall of communism. 84 students in Moscow and 88 st udents in the USA were voluntary participants. There was no national d ifference in mean perceived, relative economic status. The Russian stu dents scored more external than the USA students on over-all locus of control and on the subcategories of Luck/Fate, Academics, Leadership/S uccess, and Politics. This pattern reversed with the Respect subcatego ry. USA students scored more external than those in Russia. These find ings agree with past comparisons of samples from collectivist and demo cratic societies.