What is Locus of control?
Locus of control is the degree to which people believe they have control over the outcomes in their lives. People with an internal locus of control believe their actions determine their results; those with an external locus attribute outcomes to luck, fate, or powerful others.
How it works
Julian Rotter introduced the concept in 1954. Research consistently shows that internal locus of control is associated with better health behaviors, higher academic achievement, and greater persistence after failure. However, the relationship is not always positive: an internal locus can lead to self-blame when outcomes are genuinely beyond a person’s control.
Applied example
An employee with an internal locus of control who receives a poor performance review will ask what they can do differently. One with an external locus will attribute the review to office politics or a biased manager, making them less likely to change behavior.
Why it matters
Understanding locus of control helps practitioners design interventions that match people’s attributional style, since strategies that require personal agency will fail with populations who believe outcomes are outside their control.
