Locus of Control

What is Locus of Control?

Julian Rotter first proposed the concept of LOC in 1966 while attempting to develop a more accurate model of social learning theory (SLT), a theoretical model that predicts the likelihood that a person will exhibit a particular behavior. Much of the work calculating human behavior up until that point adhered to a strict behavioral model. That is, it examined the execution of behavior as being contingent primarily on how rewarding the end result would be for an individual. Rotter was one of the first to incorporate a cognitive component to this model, stating that behavior is not simply contingent on the value of the reinforcer, or end goal. Rotter theorized that the extent to which a person believed that his or her behavior could affect the outcome of an event would also contribute to whether the behavior was executed. SLT has since been expanded on, but this expectancy component is still considered to be an important factor in predicting behavior. It is this expectancy belief regarding an outcome that is referred to as LOC.

A person's LOC can be either internal or external. Internal LOC is the belief that a person's actions or involvement in a given situation can directly affect the attainment of a particular reinforcer. For example, if Tom thinks that studying will better prepare a person for an exam, and that this preparedness will increase the likelihood of getting an “A,” then Tom likely possesses an internal LOC and will probably study diligently for his exam. Conversely, external LOC is the belief that the attainment of a goal has little to do with one's involvement or actions, but is instead due to outside forces such as luck, chance, or the control of powerful others. Relating this to the previous example, Ty may believe that a person cannot predict the exam's content, thereby leaving his or her performance up to chance. Ty would be less likely to study for the exam because he presumes that individuals' actions have little influence over the outcome of the test.

As LOC theories gained popularity, many other theories were proposed examining constructs incorporated into a person's perceived control of a situation. One of those components, self-efficacy, is often confused with LOC, and for that reason, a distinction should be made. LOC is a person's belief regarding the degree to which external events are a product of individual effort or of forces outside of individual control, in general. Self-efficacy, on the other hand, is a person's perceptions of his or her own specific ability to perform the behavior necessary to achieve a particular outcome. It is more orientated toward a person's opinion of his or her own personal competencies in pursuing a goal.

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