A511.4.3.RB - Locus of Control

Locus of control is a term from the field of psychology which refers to an individual’s belief about the causes of his or her experiences and what he or she attributes to success and failure.  Locus of control is the level that a person believes he can influence the things that happen to him. Individuals with an external locus of control believe that the things that happen to them are the result of some external force; fate, luck, another person, or another force. People with an internal locus of control take responsibility for their actions and believe that the things that happen to them are the result of decision they have made or actions they have taken.  Although neither an internal or external locus of control is inherently “good” or “bad,” it is generally acknowledged that individuals with an external locus of control are more motivated to learn since they feel they are responsible for what happens to them; they take their education into their own hands.  People with an external locus of control frequently experience greater anxiety since they believe they are not in control of their lives or the things that happen to them (Joelson, 2017).

I recently completed Rotter’s Locus of Control Scale instrument to determine whether my locus of control is internal or external. This instrument was developed by Julian Rotter in 1966 and has become the most commonly used locus of control instrument.  After taking and scoring the instrument I confirmed my assumption that I have a strong internal locus of control. I scored a total of two points on the instrument out of a possible 23. On this instrument a low score indicates an internal locus of control, and a high score indicates an external locus of control.  I suspected I would be internal because I generally assume that my level of success and the outcomes I experience are directly related to the amount of effort I put into a task. You reap what you sow.

My internal locus of control influences my leadership behavior because I believe that the outcomes that I experience are directly related to the decision I make and the actions I undertake.  If I want to experience success in my leadership activities I have to take every opportunity into my own hands. As I work with, lead, and coach individual coworkers I believe that my actions can have an influence on them and help them to be more successful.  I believe that my leadership can help motivate others to perform at the best of their abilities.

I believe that I relate best with followers who also have an internal locus of control.  I believe it is human nature to think that most people see the world the same as I do. Because I am internally motivated to improve my abilities and knowledge I tend to believe that most others are as well.  I struggle to relate with those who have an external locus of control; those who believe that the things that happen to them are the result of luck, fate, or another outside power. Because I am internally motivated I struggle to find ways to motivate others who have an external locus of control.  

In addition, I work best with leaders that have an internal locus of control and believe that I am self-motivated to perform at my best.  I do not react as well to leaders who use a strong directive leadership style. Northouse (2016) indicated that “Path-goal theory suggests that for followers with an internal locus of control participative leadership is most satisfying because it allows them to feel in charge of their work and to be an integral part of decision making” (p. 119).

More recent studies and theories of locus of control take into account the fact that there are many things in life that simply cannot be controlled, regardless of one’s locus of control.  Primary locus of control consists of the actions a person takes to change or control the outcomes. Secondary locus of control consists of changing one’s self to fit the uncontrollable external environment.  I believe that people who are self-aware are able to discern what factors in their life they can influence and what they have no control over.



References

Joelson, R. (2017, August 2). Locus of control: How do we determine our successes and failures? Psychologytoday.com. Retrieved August 29, 2018 from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/moments-matter/201708/locus-control

Northouse, P.G. (2016). Leadership Theory and Practice (7th ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage.
Siu, O. (2017). Locus of control. The Sage encyclopedia of industrial and organizational psychology. DOI: http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/10.4135/9781483386874.n308   

Vandegrift, R. & Matusitz, J. (2011) Path-Goal Theory: A Successful Columbia Records Story. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment (21)4, 350-362. DOI: 10.1080/10911359.2011.555651

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