Control
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INTRODUCTION
Most people have heard of locus of control or self-control and recognize that without control, they can cause chaos. Many people have lost locus of control to misunderstood concept or myth. Recently, the book, The Secret, brings up a topic of control of its own life. According to the book, law of attraction reveals that core message of “The Secret” is that we are in control of our
destiny. It is still debatable. Many want to take control of their lives. It is common for people to
feel that events are taking over and they are being buffeted by a storm of school,work responsibilities, pressure and tax time. But as a student, I can encourage myself to believe that
calm waters lie ahead. This paper examines concept of locus of control and the types of control
then discusses some advantages and disadvantages.
The locus of control concept was introduced by the psychologist Julian Rotter in 1966. The
locus of control refers to what individuals believe is the controlling force behind the events that
happen to them. It can be described as either internal or external. Individuals with an internal
locus of control are likely to believe that events result from their own behaviors and actions.
Individuals with an internal locus of control are willing to take responsibility for their own
actions, and for what happens to them. Also, individuals with an internal locus of control
generally have a positive attitude because they feel that they can have an impact on their own
lives. Individuals with an external locus of control believe that powerful people, chance, or luck determines events. Individuals with an external locus of control may have a tendency to distance themselves from events and their consequences; blaming others, fate, or the situation for what is happening, instead of them taking responsibility. As a result, individuals with an external locus of control often fail to have positive attitudes because they feel paralyzed and unable to act to change what is happening to them.
Awareness of your locus of control can help you develop a positive attitude. If your locus of
control is external; you need to take responsibility for what happens to you, and to
believe that you can positively influence your own destiny. If you have an internal locus of
control, you take responsibility for your actions, however, it may also be good to remind yourself
that sometimes its important to take external factors into account. The novelist John Oliver Hobbes once said, “Men heap together the mistakes of their lives, and create a monster they call destiny.” Dont let an external locus of control become the monster that stops you from achieving what youre capable of. Challenge your perspective on what happens to you, and take action to develop a more positive outlook.
Table 1
High Internal Locus of Control Those with a high internal locus of control are likely to believe that events result from their own behavior and actions. Examples:
“Peoples misfortunes result from the mistakes that they make.”
“My success is purely a matter of hard work. Luck has nothing to do with it.”
“In the long term, you always get the respect that you deserve. Theres no such thing as luck.”
“If people really are capable and they do not make it, its because they dont make enough of the opportunities they are given.”
“I never trust to fate or chance. Its better to make a decision and take definite action.”
“Theres a direct connection between how hard I work and the appraisal that I get.”
“What happens to me depends on me, no one else. My destiny is in my own hands.”
High External Locus of Control Those with a high external locus of control believe that powerful others, fate, chance, or luck determine events. “Many of the unhappy things in peoples lives are partly due to bad luck.”
“Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, your individual worth goes unnoticed.”
“Many people dont realize the extent to which their working lives are affected by accidental happenings.”
“Without the right breaks, its impossible to be a successful manager.”
“I think that what is going to happen will happen. Theres nothing I can do about it.”
“Sometimes I dont understand the appraisal Im given. It bears no resemblance to my work.”
“Often I feel as though I dont have control over the direction my life is heading.”
Source: Locus of Control: Current Trends in Theory and Research
by Herbert M. Lefcourt; Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1982
“If a person with an internal locus of control does badly on a test, she is likely to blame either her own lack of ability or preparation for the test. By comparison, a person with an external locus of control will tend to explain a low grade by saying that the test was too hard or that the teacher graded unfairly. The concept of locus of control was developed by psychologist Julian Rotter, who devised the Internal-External Locus of Control Scale (I-E) to assess this dimension of personality. Studies have found that this test is a valid predictor of behavior typically associated with locus of control.”
Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology, 2nd ed. Gale Group, 2001.
II. TYPES OF CONTROL