Some predictors of primary control of development in three transitional periods of life

In the context of some personal central (mastery) theories (e.g., J. Heckha usen & R. Schultz, 1995; Gutmann, 1964), primary, secondary, and tertiary p ersonal control of development among subjects in three transitional periods of life were investigated (D. J. Levinson, C. N. Darrow, E. B. Klein, M. F l. Levinson, & B. McKee, 1978). Results confirmed the expectation that prim ary control decrease whereas secondary control increase with age. Tertiary control was the same in all transitional periods. There were some differenc es in contribution of predictors of primary control in the early, middle, a nd late period of transition. From the group of variables relating to perso nality traits, optimism proved a good predictor of primary control in the y oung and middle aged, whereas in old people who have the lowest primary con trol, none of the personality trait!; proved predictive. The importance of goals related to knowledge and competence (GKC) was a significant predictor in all three (age) groups.