Abstract
Secondary control has been defined as the process by which people change themselves in order to come into line with environmental forces (Rothbaum, Weisz, & Snyder, 1982). Examination of secondary control may suggest insightful explanations of characteristics of psychological development in a collective society. However, because researchers have interpreted and used their own definition of the concept of secondary control, it is difficult to integrate the results from studies of secondary control. The present review explains that researchers have taken either a hierarchical or non-hierarchical view of the structure of the concept of secondary control. The review also explains that there are variations in how secondary control can be distinguished from primary control, how to position secondary control, primary control, and relinquishing control, and the functions of secondary control and primary control. Furthermore, the present review clarifies the difference between views focusing on adjustment to the environment and those that focus on maintenance of control, certainty versus uncertainty perspectives on the cognition of action-outcome contingencies, and self versus circumstances as a strong agency of secondary control. Based on the conclusions of the present article, future issues are discussed.
