Locus Of Control

Internal locus of control is the tendency of the individual to perceive events, good or bad, that affect him or her as the results of his or her own abilities, features, and behaviors, or the results of outer powers like fortune, fate, and the others (Donmez, 1986).

Internal locus of control is regarded by an individual as the perception of event being a consequence of their own actions and therefore under personal control (Rotter, 1966). Those with an internal locus of control see the world though a more adaptive perspective. They believe that hard work and personal abilities will lead to positive outcomes. This make them more likely to meet challenges and succeed in their future endeavors. Even though ones actions may not have anything to do with an outcome, the belief that they do can greatly aid ones psychological well-being. Therefore, those that attribute a sense of personal responsibility for their future thoughts and aspirations are much

If they do not succeed, they believe it is due to their own lack of effort. An internal locus of control has been shown to develop with the development of self-regulatory abilities (Rotter, 1966). There are many factors have been associated with an internal locus of control. Males tend to be more internal than females when it comes to personal successes. This is likely due to cultural norms that emphasize aggressive behavior in males and submissive behavior in females. As societal structures change, this difference may become minimized. As people get older, they tend to become more internal as well. This may be due to the fact that as children, individuals do not have much control over their lives. Additionally, people higher up in organizational structures tend to be more internal. Rotter theorized that this trait was most closely associated with motivation to succeed (Rotter,