Perceptions of locus of control and satisfaction in friendships: The impact of problem-solving strategies

When asked about their perceptions of close others, individuals project their own feelings, attitudes, and relationship views onto these individuals. These perceptions may or may not be accurate but should influence relationship judgments. We found that women's perceptions of their same-sex friend's external locus of control predicted higher reports of own and perceptions of the friend's use of destructive problem-solving behaviors. Perceived friend's external locus of control was also related to lower levels of own and perceptions of the friend's satisfaction. These locus of control-satisfaction relations were mediated by the problem-solving behaviors. For men's same-sex friendships, locus of control did not predict problem-solving behaviors but perceived friend's locus of control (both internal and external) predicted own satisfaction.