On some objective and subjective aspects of discriminating between correlated and independent patterns and their relationship to Locus of Control and depression

ABSTRACT

Acknowledging the fact that there seems to be a well-established connection between depression and Locus of Control, we propose that Locus of Control is at least partly determined by one’s objective ability to discriminate between random and non-random stimuli and events. Further, we claim that this ability is indirectly related to depression through Locus of Control which serves as a mediator. In addition, we hypothesise that a subjective threshold, important in discriminating between random and correlated stimuli, is directly related to both depression and Locus of Control. Results from a study with 128 subjects indicate that the majority of our conjectures are supported by the data, the exception being that while the subjective threshold is significantly related to depression it appears to have no tangible influence on Locus of Control.