Locus of Control
Locus of Control (LoC) is a psychological construct that refers to an individual's belief about the
extent to which they can control events in their lives. It was first introduced by Julian Rotter
(1954) in his Social Learning Theory. LoC is categorized into:
1. Internal Locus of Control – Individuals believe that their actions
determine outcomes. They take responsibility for their successes and
failures.
2. External Locus of Control – Individuals believe that external factors,
such as luck, fate, or powerful others, control their outcomes.
Theories on Locus of Control
1. Rotter’s Social Learning Theory (1954, 1966)
o Rotter proposed that behavior is guided by reinforcement
expectations. Individuals develop either an internal or external
orientation based on past experiences.
o He developed the Locus of Control Scale (I-E Scale) to
measure this construct.
2. Lefcourt’s Theory (1976)
Lefcourt expanded on Rotter’s work, emphasizing that individuals with an
internal locus of control are more likely to engage in problem-solving and
adaptive coping strategies, whereas those with an external locus of control
may exhibit learned helplessness.
3. Weiner’s Attribution Theory (1979, 1985)
Bernard Weiner linked locus of control to attribution styles in achievement
motivation. He proposed that people attribute success or failure to internal
(ability, effort) or external (luck, difficulty of task) causes.
4. Twenge et al. (2004) – Generational Shifts in Locus of Control
Research showed that young adults have become more externally oriented
over time due to societal changes, such as increased economic uncertainty
and parental overprotection.
Research Evidence on Locus of Control
1. Health Psychology
Wallston et al. (1978) developed the Multidimensional Health Locus of
Control (MHLC) Scale, showing that an internal health locus of control leads
to better health behaviors, while an external health locus of control is linked
to poor self-care.
2. Educational Psychology
Findley & Cooper (1983) found that students with an internal locus of control
tend to have higher academic achievement, better time management, and
greater persistence in learning.
3. Clinical Psychology
Benassi, Sweeney, & Dufour (1988) conducted a meta-analysis showing that
an external locus of control is strongly correlated with higher levels of
depression and anxiety.
4. Workplace and Organizational Psychology
Spector (1988) found that employees with an internal locus of control
experience higher job satisfaction and lower stress, while those with an
external locus of control report greater workplace dissatisfaction and stress.
Psychological Assessment Tools for Locus of Control
1. Rotter’s Internal-External Locus of Control Scale (I-E Scale, 1966)
A widely used 29-item forced-choice questionnaire that measures the degree
of internal or external control in various life domains.
2. Levenson’s Multidimensional Locus of Control Scale (1973)
Divides locus of control into three dimensions:
Internal Control (I)
Powerful Others (P)
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3. Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale (1973)
A scale designed for children and adolescents to measure their perception of
control over life events.
4. Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) Scale (Wallston et al.,
1978)
Measures perceptions of control over health-related behaviors.
5. Work Locus of Control Scale (WLCS, Spector, 1988)
Measures control beliefs in the workplace and their impact on job
satisfaction, stress, and performance.
6. Academic Locus of Control Scale (Trice, 1985)
Focuses on students’ beliefs about control over academic success or failure.
Conclusion
Locus of Control is a crucial personality construct influencing motivation,
mental health, academic performance, and career success. While an internal
locus of control is associated with better mental health, resilience, and
proactive behavior, an external locus of control is linked to stress, learned
helplessness, and lower motivation. Psychological assessments help
researchers and clinicians identify individuals’ control beliefs and tailor
interventions accordingly.
