![]() Do You Have An Internal Or External Locus Of Control? Our beliefs about the cause of our actions influence our behaviors and attitudes. Rotter pointed out that our behavior is usually governed by rewards and punishments and that it was these consequences that molded our belief systems. It also depends on the individual’s motivation to take action for or against those events. This helps to understand how a person responds to certain events that occur in their life. The Rotter scale requires respondents to choose between two alternatives and two possibilities for each item. ![]() Rotter developed the forced-choice scale, the most widely used questionnaire used to measure the internal and external factors that individuals are governed by. The characteristics of people influenced by Internal vs External locus are as follows: Internal Locus of Control External Locus of Control Takes responsibility for their own actions Places blame on external forces Less influenced by the opinions of others Tends to credit luck or chance for any successes Does well in tasks when they work on their own pace Refuses to believe that their situation can change through their own efforts Physically healthier Feels helpless or powerless in different situations Works hard to achieve the things they want More susceptible to experiencing learned hopelessness Has a strong sense of self-efficacy Physically unfit Are more happier and independent Doesn’t work towards success or change Achieves greater success at workplace Less happier and dependent Measuring Scale For Locus Of Control There are certain characteristics of people that are governed by a dominant internal or external locus of control. Most people resort to a combination of internal and external factors. There is evidence 2 that suggests it is often shaped by childhood experiences, including children’s interactions with their parents. When someone blames negative outcomes on external factors, they are less likely to work towards change or do the needful. ![]() For instance, if a student did not perform well in their exam, they will immediately blame external events such as the teacher or the questionnaire for their below-average performance. People with external locus tend to praise or blame external factors. External Locus Of ControlĮxternal locus of control is when a person believes that they do not possess any control over life events that are either positive or negative. Studies 1 have shown that children who were raised by parents, who encouraged their independence and helped them to learn the connection between actions and their consequences, were found to have a more well-developed internal locus of control. They are more internally focused rather than blaming it on external factors. If someone believes that they are the creator of their own destiny, they are more likely to take charge of the situation. For instance, in the case of receiving exam results, people with an internal locus of control tend to attribute praise or blame to themselves or their abilities. Individuals who have a strong internal locus of control tend to believe that life events are primarily a result of their own actions. This phenomenon is viewed as an inborn personality trait. If you believe that your successes and failures are due to external forces then you are focused on your external locus. If you are someone who attributes their successes and failures to themselves then you are focused on your internal locus. A person’s “locus” is conceptualized as internal or external. In case a difficult situation arises, do you feel that you have ultimate control over the consequences? Or do you attribute it to external factors? On the basis of the answers, your area of focus may be distinguished between the internal and external locus of control. He defined this concept as “a belief about whether the outcomes of our actions are contingent on what we do (internal control orientation) or on events outside our personal control (external control orientation)”. Furthermore, psychologist Philip Zimbardo explained this concept in his book Psychology and Life in 1985. Rotter developed the psychological concept in 1954. LOC is the extent to which we believe that whether our life is controlled by ourselves or by external factors. ![]() It is the belief that is associated with how much control we have over the situations we encounter in everyday life. In psychology, locus of control is defined as the strength of a person’s beliefs regarding the extent of control they have over events and experiences that have an impact on their lives.
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