THE TRIADIC RELATIONSHIP: LOCUS OF CONTROL, COPING STRATEGIES AND COMPLAINING BEHAVIORS

Abstract

Complaining is highly prevalent and studies showed that people complain when they are dissatisfied. Locus of control (LOC) has also been associated with satisfaction levels, whereby high internal LOC (internals), as compared to high external LOC (externals), is correlated to higher satisfaction levels. This paper hypothesizes that internals, as compared to externals, would complain less frequently and about fewer topics in a single complaint. When complaining, internals would also attribute more of their dissatisfaction towards internal factors, while externals would attribute more towards external factors. Furthermore, it is hypothesized that both the ideal response to internals’ complaints and the way internals would respond to others’ complaints would be high in resolution. On the contrary, these two responses would be high in sympathy for externals. The effect of locus of control on ideal response and response to others are hypothesized to be mediated by innate coping strategies (Rational and Emotional Coping). Varying support for all hypotheses were obtained. In conclusion, LOC is an individual personality trait that has predictive power over individuals’ complaining behaviors, and innate coping strategies have a mediating effect in the relationships between LOC and responses. Finally, better understanding of complaining behavior in an academic setting is obtained.