Forty subjects who had previously been identified for internal/external locus of control characteristics read a case history that was manipulated to reflect either persuasive or coercive influence strategies. The subjects then completed five seven-point scales that measured the extent to which they approved or disapproved of the means of influence (persuasion or coercion) used in the case study. The data indicate several differences between internals and externals: although both internals and externals evaluated persuasion more highly than coercion, only internals discriminated between the two types of influence to a significant degree; internals' approval of coercion was significantly lower than their approval of persuasion, but externals did not make that distinction between the two strategies. Externals evaluated coercion significantly more favorably than did internals. The findings are discussed in terms of their relevance to current research and their implications for the use of influence in interpersonal relationships. (Author/RL)