Have you ever noticed how some people always seem to take charge of their lives, while others feel that life just happens to them? This difference often comes down to something called the Locus of Control — a concept that helps us understand whether we believe we have control over our lives, or if outside forces are mostly in charge.
A Quick History
The term Locus of Control was introduced by psychologist Julian B. Rotter in 1966 as part of his Social Learning Theory. He wanted to understand why some people feel that their actions make a real difference, while others think success or failure depends mostly on luck, fate, or timing.
Rotter’s theory described two broad perspectives:
Internal Locus of Control: You believe your effort, choices, and persistence shape your results.
External Locus of Control: You believe outcomes are mainly determined by luck, other people, or outside circumstances.
Most of us fall somewhere in between — and that balance can shift depending on what’s happening in our lives.
(Reference: Rotter, J.B. (1966). “Generalised expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement.”Psychological Monographs, 80(1), 1–28.)*
A Personal Reflection
I hold a life coaching and a counselling qualification, but I’m not a trained psychologist. I’ve always been fascinated by human behaviour — by what makes us act, think, and respond the way we do. Our perceptions and beliefs often run deep; they’re shaped by our upbringing, experiences, and the people around us.
But here’s something important to remember: these beliefs may be part of who we are, yet they don’t define us. With self-awareness and practice, we can begin to notice where our thoughts come from — and shift them when they no longer serve us.
Why It Matters
Understanding your Locus of Control can be a powerful way to:
Recognise what motivates you
Notice how you respond to setbacks and stress
Identify patterns that may lead to burnout.
When you know how you see control in your life, you can focus your energy where it counts — and let go of what’s truly beyond your reach.
Try It Yourself: True or False Exercise
Here’s a short reflection exercise inspired by Rotter’s work.
Simply read each statement and decide if it feels True or False for you right now.
Go with your first instinct — there are no right or wrong answers.
- When I set my mind to something, I can usually make it happen.
- Luck often plays a big role in my success.
- My actions have a direct impact on my future.
- When things go wrong, it’s usually because of factors I can’t control.
- Hard work is more important than luck.
- No matter what I do, some things are just meant to happen.
- I take responsibility for the results I get in life.
- Other people’s opinions often decide what happens to me.
- My effort determines how much I achieve.
- The world has too much randomness for planning to really matter.
Scoring
Give yourself 10 points for each “True” on statements 1, 3, 5, 7, 9.
Give yourself 10 points for each “False” on statements 2, 4, 6, 8, 10.
Now, add up your points to get your total score out of 100.
0–30: Very strong External Locus of Control — You tend to see outside forces as the main driver of what happens.
40–50: Moderate External Locus — You believe life is influenced by both effort and luck, but often lean toward external causes.
60–70: Balanced Internal/External Locus — You recognise both personal effort and circumstances, and can adapt as needed.
80–100: Strong Internal Locus of Control — You believe your actions and decisions largely shape your results.
Note: This is an informal self-reflection tool, not a diagnostic or clinical test.
Understanding Your Results
Neither internal nor external control is “better.”
- A strong internal locus can drive motivation, confidence, and resilience — but may lead to pressure to “fix” everything yourself.
- A strong external locus can encourage acceptance and flexibility — but may sometimes make you feel powerless.
The healthiest mindset is usually somewhere in the middle — understanding what you can influence, and making peace with what you can’t.
Key Takeaways
Your Locus of Control isn’t fixed; it changes with experience, stress, and self-awareness. Taking a few moments to reflect on how you see control in your life can help you strengthen what’s within your reach — and ease the weight of what isn’t.
Our beliefs may shape our path, but they don’t have to set it in stone. Awareness is the first step — and even a few minutes of reflection can make a real difference.
References & Further Reading
- Rotter, J.B. (1966). Generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement. Psychological Monographs, 80(1), 1–28.
- Cherry, K. (2023). “What Is the Locus of Control?” Verywell Mind. Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-locus-of-control-2795434
- Simply Psychology. “Julian Rotter – Locus of Control.” Retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/locus-of-control.html
