PRIMARY AND SECONDARY CONTROL : AN EXAMINATION OF SOME THEORETICAL ISSUES

Abstract

Two theoretical issues concerning the concept of primary-secondary control were examined in this study. First, is this concept really a form of control beliefs or is it merely a type of coping responses? Second, should we associate primary-secondary control with internal-external locus of control without taking into account the appraisal process? 100 respondents participated in this two-phase survey research. Three scales were administered across the two phases with a time lag of one month in between. It was concluded that primary-secondary control should indeed be conceived as a coping response. Specifically, this concept was found to be heavily influenced by the appraisal process. The results generated also seemed to suggest that both individual differences and event characteristics might help to shape this appraisal process. As primary-secondary control was illustrated here to be a coping response, we should take into account the mediating effect of appraisal when we are associating this concept with some form of control beliefs. However, the predicted mediating effect of event controllability on the relationship between primary-secondary control and internal-external locus of control was not supported. Finally, it was proposed that the terms "event-targeted coping" and "self-targeted coping" should replace the present terms of "primary control" and "secondary control" respectively to avoid further confusion in this concept. Specifically, secondary control seemed to have primacy over primary control in this sample and this concept was shown to reflect a "coping" rather than a "control" process.