locus of control

n. A phrase coined by Julian Rotter that refers to a person's perception of how much or how little control he/she has over life. Rotter discusses two variations of locus of control: internal and external (which can be measured using Rotter's I/E Scale). Individuals who have an internal locus of control believe that they personally are in control of their own destiny. It is through their own efforts that they succeed or fail on a given task. Individuals with an external locus of control believe they are at the mercy of external factors such as luck or fate. They do not believe their efforts will lead to a change in their environment. Locus of control is believed be caused by past experiences individuals have with success and failure, other people's responses to those events, and cultural factors. These affecting factors influence individuals' expectancies for control over and outcomes of future occurrences.

- SRB