Desire for Control Scale

What it measures

The standard measure of desire for control as a stable individual difference, validated across multiple samples (total n>2,000). Alpha 0.76–0.80; two-week test-retest reliability r=0.75. Convergent validity with Type A behaviour, need for power, and internal locus of control. Discriminant from social desirability, self-monitoring, and self-esteem. Higher scores predict preference for leadership roles, greater information search before decisions, higher resistance to persuasion, stronger attributions of causality to oneself in performance situations, and more active coping with stressors. In consumer research, high desire-for-control individuals: (a) engage in more extensive pre-purchase information search to maintain an informed, controlling consumer role; (b) resist high-pressure sales tactics; (c) respond negatively to advertising implying dependency or loss of control; (d) show lower susceptibility to interpersonal influence; (e) prefer customisation and personalisation options; and (f) respond more positively to autonomy-supportive service encounters. Low desire-for-control individuals show higher susceptibility to social influence, greater reliance on expert recommendations, and less resistance to persuasion. Widely used as a moderator of reactance, consumer empowerment, and health decision-making research. Mean score Mapprox.81 (SDapprox.10) in general adult samples; higher in managerial and entrepreneurial samples.

Representative items

• I prefer a job where I have a lot of control over what I do and when I do it.
• I try to avoid situations where someone else tells me what to do.
• I enjoy having control over my own destiny.
• I prefer to be a leader rather than a follower.
• I enjoy making my own decisions.

Citation

Burger, J.M., & Cooper, H.M. (1979). The desirability of control. Motivation and Emotion, 3(4), 381–393.