This paper summarizes the research on the factors influencing marital satisfaction, selected research on locus of control, research on the measurement of locus of control, and the recent research on locus of control and marital satisfaction. It analyzes this research from the standpoint of criticisms of the research on locus of control and makes recommendations about its utility in the therapeutic setting. Included are chapters on marital satisfaction, locus of control, the research correlating marital satisfaction and locus of control, the use and misuse of Rotter's measurement of locus of control, and theories related to locus of control. The review concludes that it is difficult to draw straight-forward conclusions about the research on locus of control and marital satisfaction since much of the existing research is complicated by methodological problems, assessment difficulties, and interpretation biases. It is further concluded that these research problems are complicated by a lack of understanding or by a misunderstanding of the locus of control construct and its theoretical base. Practitioners who might consider locus of control when counseling married couples are encouraged to fully understand and appreciate the implications of the literature that draws the conclusion that internality is the preferred orientation with respect to marital satisfaction. It is suggested that the research on locus of control and marital satisfaction is valuable if viewed in the context of social learning theory. (NB)