Desirability of Control Scale – DCS

I prefer a job where I have a lot of control over what I do and when I do it.

I enjoy political participation because I want to have as much of a say in running government as possible.

I try to avoid situations where someone else tells me what to do.

I would prefer to be a leader than a follower.

I enjoy being able to influence the actions of others.

I am careful to check everything on an automobile before I leave for a long trip.

Others usually know what is best for me.

I enjoy making my own decisions.

I enjoy having control over my own destiny.

I would rather someone else take over the leadership role when I'm involved in a group project.

I consider myself to be generally more capable of handling situations than others are.

I'd rather run my own business and make my own mistakes than listen to someone else's orders.

I like to get a good idea of what a job is all about before I begin.

When I see a problem, I prefer to do something about it rather than sit by and let it continue.

When it comes to orders, I would rather give them than receive them.

I wish I could push many of life's daily decisions off on someone else.

When driving, I try to avoid putting myself in a situation where I could be hurt by another person's mistake.

I prefer to avoid situations where someone else has to tell me what it is I should be doing.

There are many situations in which I would prefer only one choice rather than having to make a decision.

I like to wait and see if someone else is going to solve a problem so that I don't have to be bothered with it.