Theories of Personality 9th Edition

540 Part VI Learning-Cognitive Theories

regarding a set of behaviors designed to satisfy needs, Rotter introduced this general

prediction formula:

NP = f (FM + NV)

This equation means that need potential (NP) is a function of freedom of

movement (FM) and need value (NV). The formula is analogous to the basic

prediction formula, and each factor is parallel to the corresponding factors of that

basic formula. To illustrate the general prediction formula, we can look at La

Juan’s situation with regard to her future academic work. To predict her need

potential for working toward graduation with highest honors, we must measure her

freedom of movement, that is, her mean expectancy of being reinforced for a series

of behaviors necessary to reach her goal, plus her need value of all those reinforce-

ments: that is, the value she places on recognition-status or any other need she

associates with receiving academic honors. The value La Juan places on recognition-

status (need value), plus her average expectancy of being reinforced for performing

the required series of behaviors (freedom of movement), equals her potential for

pursuing the set of required behaviors (need potential). A comparison of the basic

(specific) prediction formula and the generalized prediction formula is shown in

Figure 18.1.

Rotter’s general prediction formula allows for people’s history of using sim-

ilar experiences to anticipate present reinforcement. That is, they have a general-

ized expectancy for success. Rotter’s two most popular scales for measuring

generalized expectancies are the Internal-External Control Scale and the Interper-

sonal Trust Scale.

Basic prediction formula

BPx 1 ,s 1 ,ra f(Ex 1 ,ra,s 1 and RVa,s 1 )

Potential for La Juan to rest

her head in the classroom

her expectancy that this

behavior will be followed

by sleep

her need for sleep in

this situation.

General prediction formula

NP f(FM and NV)

Potential for La Juan completing

all those behaviors necessary

to receive a PhD in clinical

psychology and thereby satisfy

her need for recognition-status

=

is a

function

of

=

is a

function

of

her average expectancy that

a set of related behaviors

directed toward recognition-

status will be reinforced

her preference for good grades,

prestige, reputation, acceptance

by colleagues, praise from profes-

sors, and other reinforcements

related to recognition-status.

+

+

FIGURE 18.1 Comparison of the basic prediction formula and the general prediction formula.