The “Locus of Control” Factor

by Gene Whorl, 8/26/09

This term describes the orientation you believe is responsible for the outcome of events in your life.

• Those with an “External Locus” of control believe the economy, government, employer, friends, enemies or another external factor determines their destinies.
• Some indicators include:
  1. Blame (“he, she, they or it did it to me”)
  2. Weakness (“I can’t”)
  3. Rigidity (“That’s the way I have always been”)
  4. Belief in fate or chance (“I’ve never had the chance to….”)
  5. Wishful thinking (“If I hadn’t done that, things would be fine”)
• Those with an “Internal Locus”, believe you have control over your own destiny, you’ll take responsibility for managing it. These individuals perceive that positive or negative events result from their own actions.
• Examples of statements that you might expect hear include:
  • “Yes, I’m lucky, because I work hard at making my own luck”
  •  “My job is fun and rewarding because I look for the good in it”
  • “If it is going to be, it’s up to me”