Perceived control is becoming an increasingly popular topic in the literature of communication. Intriguing evidence exists to suggest that the key to understanding the role of locus of control in the interpersonal encounter lies in appreciating the enthymematic nature of human interaction and the role of perceived control in this enthymematic process. A literature review examines evidence for the enthymematic hypothesis in studies in the areas of classroom power, social influence, interpersonal conflict, interaction style, and the doctor-patient encounter, as well as in research from the perspective of learned helplessness concerning explanatory style. The enthymematic perspective of control beliefs both links control beliefs with communicative decision making and ties therapeutic or strategic change to the long tradition of rhetoric or persuasion. Taken together, the studies reviewed offer intriguing evidence of the essentially rhetorical nature of strategic or therapeutic communication, and provide a basis for a "meaning-centered" integration between psychology and communication study. (Contains 66 references.) (Author/SG)