Locus of control

A person with an external locus of control attributes academic success or failure to a cause or causes other than himself.

In addition, they also struggle more with procrastination and/or difficult tasks.

Locus of control is the "extent to which you feel in control of the events that influence your life."

Internal vs. external locus of control

According to Kendra Cherry, MSEd:

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If you believe that you have control over what happens, you have what psychologists refer to as an internal locus of control. If you believe that you have no control over what happens and that external variables are to blame, you have what is known as an external locus of control.5 It is important to note that locus of control is a continuum. No one has a 100% external or internal locus of control. Instead, most people lie somewhere on the continuum between the two extremes.

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Christianity teaches the sovereignty of God. But it also teaches that one has free will and that Christians are co-labors with God (1 Corinthians 3:9).

Core self-evaluations and developing an internal locus of control

See also: Core self-evaluations

Core self-evaluations (CSE) is a psychological "theory that includes four personality dimensions: self-esteem, self-efficacy, locus of control" and neuroticism. "Core self-evaluations are instinctive judgments that we all make about ourselves and our lives."

According to Medical News Today, neuroticism is a long-term tendency to be in a negative or anxious emotional state. It is not a medical condition but a personality trait. People often confuse this with neurosis."

"Negative emotions are unpleasant and disruptive emotional reactions. Examples of negative emotions include sadness, fear, anger, or jealousy. These feelings aren't just unpleasant; they also make it hard to function in your normal daily life, and they interfere with your ability to accomplish goals." According to James Madison University: "There are 8 primary emotions. You are born with these emotions wired into your brain. That wiring causes your body to react in certain ways and for you to have certain urges when the emotion arises." See: List of primary emotions and List of primary emotions at James Madison University.

One way to improve one's core self-evaluation is to increase one's internal locus of control.

Journal articles

• Locus of Control behavior in ultra-high risk patients. Rivista Di Psichiatria. 2022 May-Jun;57(3):123-126. doi: 10.1708/3814.37990.
• The Effects of Self-Efficacy and Locus of Control on Cyberbully/Victim Status in Adolescents. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2021 Nov-Dec:61:e15-e21. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2021.04.004. Epub 2021 Apr 21.

External links

• Locus of Control and Your Life
• Understand your locus of control and how it shapes and moves you
• Locus of Control
• Locus of Control: What It Is and Why It Matters, PsychCentral

Videos:

• Locus of control - Video playlist