External–Internal Control

J. B. Rotter's seminal work on external–internal control has stimulated much theoretical and empirical work in personality psychology, in general and multicultural psychology, in particular. Rotter described externalinternal control as a general personality trait of attribution tendency. Persons with an external locus of control tend to attribute causes of events and future conditions to external forces such as other people, society, luck, or fate. On the other hand, persons with an internal locus of control tend to take responsibility for life conditions and believe in their ability to shape their future. Rotter developed the Internal–External Locus of Control Scale, a 29-item measure that uses a forced-choice format with two options (internal or external control) for each item.

Multicultural psychologists find the concept of external–internal control particularly ...