Ever feel like you have little control over the events in your own life? That external forces outside of your influence are dictating your destiny? If so, you may have an external locus of control. This means you believe that life’s outcomes are primarily determined by luck, chance, or the influence of powerful others. Rather than feeling that you are in control of your own fate, you see yourself as being more reactive to the circumstances around you.
An external locus of control can be problematic if taken to an extreme, as it may lead to feelings of helplessness or a tendency to blame outside factors for failures and shortcomings. However, having some degree of external locus of control is normal and realistic. After all, there are many aspects of life that remain outside our sphere of influence, no matter how much we wish otherwise.
Understanding your locus of control and finding the right balance of internal and external attributions is an important part of developing a healthy outlook and strong self-efficacy.
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What Is External Locus of Control?
Have you ever felt like you have little control over the events in your own life? That’s known as an external locus of control. People with an external locus of control believe that external forces, like luck, fate, or other people, primarily determine life events.
What Causes an External Locus of Control?
There are a few factors that can contribute to developing an external locus of control:
- Childhood experiences. If you grew up in an unstable environment or one where you had little power over situations, you may have learned to attribute control to external factors.
- Cultural influences. Some cultures encourage belief in fate or destiny more than personal control. Growing up in a culture like this could foster an external locus of control.
- Low self-esteem. If you lack confidence in yourself and your abilities, you may believe you have little influence over your circumstances.
How does it affect you?
Having an external locus of control can negatively impact your life in several ways:
- You may feel hopeless or apathetic in the face of difficult life events. If you think you can’t influence things, why try?
- You could struggle with motivation and goal-setting. After all, if external factors determine your outcomes, what’s the point?
- Anxiety and stress may frequently trouble you. Feeling out of control of situations can increase worry and distress.
- Interpersonal relationships may suffer. An external locus of control is linked to lower empathy, less prosocial behavior, and relationship dissatisfaction.
The good news is that locus of control exists on a continuum, so you can work to develop a more internal one. Focus on the power of choice, accept responsibility for your life, set small goals, and celebrate your wins, no matter how small. With time and effort, you can gain a healthier outlook.
The Origins of Locus of Control Theory
The concept of locus of control was first developed in the 1950s by psychologist Julian Rotter. He proposed that a person’s locus of control can be either internal or external. An internal locus of control means you believe you have control over your own life events and outcomes. An external locus of control means you believe that life events and outcomes are outside of your control and determined more by chance, luck, or other people and factors.
Rotter originally developed this theory to explain how people’s behaviors and beliefs about control influence their motivation and learning. He found that internals, or those with an internal locus of control, were more likely to take action to change their situation. Externals were more likely to feel that their efforts didn’t matter much and were less likely to work hard to learn or complete challenging tasks.
Since Rotter’s initial work, the concept of locus of control has been studied in many areas of psychology and has been linked to wellbeing, achievement, and relationships. People with an internal locus of control generally fare better in these domains. They believe in their own ability to influence events and achieve goals, so they are more likely to take action and persevere in the face of failures or setbacks.
Those with an external locus of control, on the other hand, may feel less empowered to change their situation and see little point in making an effort. They believe that what happens to them is mostly due to luck or fate and out of their hands. As a result, they are less likely to take proactive steps to improve their lives or work toward meaningful goals.
Of course, locus of control exists on a continuum, and people can have combinations of internal and external beliefs in different areas of their lives. But cultivating a more internal locus of control has significant psychological benefits and is a skill that can be learned and developed over time. By better understanding this concept, you gain awareness and control over your beliefs and behaviors.
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Characteristics of the External Locus of Control
People with an external locus of control believe that events in their lives are outside of their control. They think that external forces, like luck, fate, or powerful others, determine what happens to them. If you have an external locus of control, you are likely to:
Feel powerless over your circumstances.
You may feel like you have little influence over the events in your life. You think that no matter what you do, external factors ultimately determine your outcomes and destiny. This can lead to feelings of helplessness and a lack of motivation.
Blame outside sources for failures.
When things go wrong, you tend to blame external sources, like bad luck, difficult circumstances, or other people. You have trouble taking personal responsibility for your actions and outcomes. You see yourself as a victim of events outside your control.
Depend on external validation and approval.
You rely heavily on what others think of you, and your worth depends on external praise, rewards, and reinforcement. You have trouble internally motivating yourself and need others to motivate you.
Struggle with decision-making
You have a hard time making choices and trusting your own judgment. You second-guess yourself and look to others to make important decisions for you. You think that external factors will determine the outcome, regardless of what you choose.
Feel anxious and pessimistic.
An external locus of control is linked to higher anxiety, stress, and a pessimistic outlook. When you believe that life’s events are arbitrary and unpredictable, it’s hard to feel secure and optimistic. You never know when the next threat outside your control may strike.
In summary, an external locus of control can be problematic. But the good news is that you can work to develop a more internal locus of control by taking responsibility for your actions, making your own choices, and recognizing the role you play in influencing outcomes. With practice and effort, you can gain more mastery and control over your life.
How the External Locus of Control Develops
Having an external locus of control means believing that events in your life are outside of your control and determined primarily by external factors like fate, luck, chance, or powerful others. This orientation develops over time through your experiences, environment, and learning.
As a child, you start to form beliefs about control and influence over events in your life based on your experiences. If you experience unpredictable environments or a lack of control over what happens to you, it can cultivate an external locus of control. For example, if your needs or wants were frequently dismissed or ignored as a kid, you may come to believe you have little influence over your circumstances.
Your environment and role models also shape your locus of control. If you grew up in a household where people felt they had little agency or control due to socioeconomic factors, health issues, or beliefs, you may adopt a similar external orientation. Or, if your primary caregivers modeled an external locus of control in how they explained events, you likely internalized that view.
Life events and trauma can also lead to an external locus of control. Going through difficult life events you perceive as out of your control, such as chronic illness, the loss of a loved one, a natural disaster, or violence, can foster beliefs of helplessness and little self-determination.
Your locus of control is influenced by a combination of nature and nurture. While genetics may predispose you to a particular orientation, your environment, experiences, learning, and choices ultimately shape whether you develop an internal or external locus of control. The good news is that, with awareness and effort, you can work to cultivate a more balanced or internal locus of control.
The impact of external loci of control on motivation
Having an external locus of control means you believe that outside forces primarily determine what happens in your life. This belief can negatively impact your motivation and perseverance.
You feel less in control of outcomes.
When you have an external locus of control, you tend to believe that your own actions and behaviors have little influence over results. You may feel that factors like luck, chance, or the influence of other, more powerful people determine what happens to you. This can make you feel like less of an active participant in your own life and destiny. You may become more prone to blaming outside circumstances for failures or setbacks rather than looking internally at your own choices and behaviors.
You doubt your abilities and give up more easily.
Since you don’t feel in control of outcomes, you likely have less confidence in your own abilities and skills. When facing challenges, obstacles, or failures, you may quickly become discouraged and give up. You think, “What’s the point in trying, since I have no control over the outcome anyway?” This limits your motivation, persistence, and resilience. You need a stronger internal belief in yourself to push through difficulties.
You feel less empowered to make changes.
With an external locus of control, you probably feel largely at the mercy of whatever life throws at you. This can breed a sense of powerlessness, where you believe you have little ability to influence your situation or environment in meaningful ways. You may feel stuck in your circumstances with no clear path forward to improve things. In reality, while you can’t control everything, you do have agency and the power to make choices that shape your life’s direction. Recognizing this internal empowerment is key to motivation and success.
In summary, an external locus of control can negatively impact your motivation, confidence, perseverance, and sense of empowerment. By developing a more balanced view of control and influence over your life, you can build the motivation to work towards your goals and shape your destiny.
External Locus of Control and Academic Achievement
Having an external locus of control means that you believe that most of the events in your life are outside of your control. If you have an external locus of control, you likely think that your own actions and behaviors have little influence over your achievements and outcomes. Rather, you attribute successes and failures to external factors like luck, chance, or fate.
Students with an external locus of control often struggle in school. Since they believe that their efforts and actions have little impact on outcomes, they may not see the point in studying hard or paying close attention in class. After all, if you think that luck and circumstance primarily determine your grades and achievements, why bother putting in maximum effort?
This attitude can lead to poor study habits, a lack of motivation, and less persistence in the face of challenges or setbacks. When a student with an external locus of control fails a test or struggles in a class, they are more likely to blame the teacher, the subject matter, or bad luck rather than take responsibility for their own lack of preparation or effort.
Over time, these habits and beliefs can significantly impact a student’s academic performance and success. Educators may observe these students:
- Giving up easily when work gets difficult
- Not putting in adequate effort or preparation
- Blaming others, like teachers or peers, for their poor grades
- Having poor organizational and time management skills
- Lacking motivation or ambition for their education
The good news is that the locus of control is not a fixed trail. Students can learn to develop an internal locus of control with support and guidance. Educators should focus on:
- Helping students see the connection between their efforts and outcomes. Review how their preparation and work ethic directly impacted their achievements and grades.
- Encouraging students to take responsibility for their decisions and actions. Don’t let them make excuses or blame others.
- Praise students for their effort and hard work rather than their inherent abilities. This helps them value the importance of effort.
- Using setbacks or failures as learning opportunities. Help students see what they can improve on next time rather than attributing the outcome to external causes.
- Providing students with opportunities to make choices and have control over their learning. This helps them gain confidence in their ability to influence outcomes.
With time and practice, students can strengthen an internal locus of control and learn that their own actions and hard work pay off. This will serve them well, not just in school but in life beyond the classroom.
External Locus of Control and Relationships
When you have an external locus of control, you believe that life events are outside of your control and determined by external factors like luck, fate, or other people’s actions. This can influence your relationships in several ways:
- You may feel like a victim in your relationships and blame your partner or others for relationship problems rather than taking responsibility for your own role. For example, if there is a communication breakdown, you’re more likely to point the finger at your partner for not listening rather than looking at what you could have done differently.
- You tend to feel powerless in relationships and like you have no influence over the other person or the relationship’s direction. This can lead to anxiety, stress, and clingy or demanding behavior as you try to regain some control.
- You often rely too heavily on your partner’s actions and moods for your own happiness and stability. For example, if your partner is in a bad mood, you feel responsible for fixing it and become upset yourself. You have trouble separating yourself emotionally.
- You struggle with setting healthy boundaries since you feel at the mercy of your partner’s wants and needs. You have a hard time saying no and end up resenting your partner, even though you are enabling the behavior.
- You may become passive or apathetic in the relationship since you don’t feel you can change anything anyway. You go along with whatever your partner wants to avoid conflict, but then grow distant and detached.
The good news is that you can work to develop a more internal locus of control. Make an effort to take responsibility for yourself in your relationships, establish boundaries, communicate your needs, and realize you have more influence than you think.
Your relationships will become healthier and more balanced as a result. Focus on the things you can control—your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. With time and practice, you’ll get better at believing in your own power and shaping your relationships for the better.
External Locus of Control in the Workplace
Having an external locus of control at work means you believe outside forces determine your job satisfaction and success rather than your own actions or attributes. If you have an external locus of control in the workplace, you may feel like you have little power over your career path or job performance.
Lack of motivation With an external locus of control, you may lack motivation or initiative at work. You could feel that your efforts don’t really matter because outside factors ultimately control your job outcomes. This can lead to decreased productivity or poor work performance over time.
Less job satisfaction If you believe external forces control your job satisfaction, you’re less likely to feel personally fulfilled or content in your role. You may blame your boss, colleagues, clients, or company policies for your lack of job satisfaction rather than looking inward at what you can control or improve.
Difficulty taking responsibility It can be hard for people with an external locus of control to take responsibility for their mistakes, poor decisions, or failures on the job. It’s easier to point the finger at external causes than to accept personal accountability. This can damage work relationships and credibility over the long run.
Tips to develop an internal locus of control in workplace
The good news is that you can work to shift your mindset to an internal locus of control, which will benefit your motivation, job satisfaction, and work performance. Here are some tips:
- Focus on what you can control. Identify aspects of your job that are within your influence and take action. Even small wins can help build an internal locus of control.
- Reflect on your role in the outcomes. Look at situations objectively to see how your own actions or inactions contributed to the results. Then make a plan to do things differently next time.
- Improve your skills. Take opportunities to strengthen your knowledge and abilities. The more competent and confident you feel in your role, the more you’ll believe in your own capacity to shape your work outcomes.
- Be proactive. Don’t just react to situations. Look for ways to anticipate challenges and influence events. The more you drive action, the less you’ll feel that external forces are in control.
- Accept responsibility. When things go wrong at work, resist the urge to blame others. Take ownership of your part in what happened and commit to using it as an opportunity to grow. You’ll feel empowered by being accountable.
Conclusion
So in summary, having an external locus of control means you believe that life’s outcomes are outside of your control. If this sounds like you, try not to be too hard on yourself. Many factors in life are out of our hands. But you can work to develop a more internal locus of control by focusing on the things you can influence. Set small goals and acknowledge your wins, however small they are.
Don’t assume you have no power or impact. With practice, you can strengthen your ability to shape your life in the direction you want to go. Ultimately, the most important thing is that you keep putting one foot in front of the other. You’ve got this! Stay determined, and don’t lose hope. The future is unwritten, my friend. Now go out there and start writing it.
References
- External Locus of Control by Gary Davis
- Internal & External Locus of Control | Definition & Examples
- The Internal–External Locus of Control Short Scale–4 (IE-4): A comprehensive validation of the English-language adaptation
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