The effects of ethnicity, gender, and risk on locus of control were investigated for gifted children and for high ability nongifted children. Subjects (n=805) in grades 5 through 7 were African-American, Caucasian, Latino/Hispanic, or Fillipino and had been referred for evaluation of giftedness, which included evaluation of intellectual ability and six risk factors: (1) environmental risk, (2) economic risk, (3) language risk, (4) cultural risk, (5) emotional risk, and (6) health risks. Analysis of variance revealed significant main effects for giftedness, ethnic background, and level of risk, as well as a significant ethnic X risk interaction. In addition, a gender X giftedness X ethnic background analysis of variance yielded a significant main effect for gender. Overall, higher internal locus of control was associated with female Caucasians not at risk. However, in contrast to Caucasians, greater risk was associated with a higher internal locus of control in non-Caucasians. Results confirmed previous findings in showing a more internal locus of control in gifted children, and further indicate that, for gifted and intellectually bright non-Caucasians, risk is associated with, and may serve to strengthen, a greater internal locus of control. Results support the use of locus of control as an alternative in identifying gifted traditionally underrepresented groups such as African-Americans and Latino/Hispanics. (DB)