Locus of Control

Question 1

Explain the Locus of Control

Answer 1

Locus of Control is useful to understand people with different psychological orientations are (a) locus of control and (b) locus of responsibility.

It considers the tendency of people to believe that control resides internally within them, or externally, with others or the situation. These variables form four different psychological outlooks in life and their consequent characteristics, dynamics and implications for the social worker.

Question 2

What are the 2 constructs of Locus of Control?

Answer 2

The 2 constructs of Locus of Control vary along the dimensions of internality and externality.

• Internal control refers to people’s beliefs that reinforcement is contingent upon their own actions and that people can shape their own fate.
• External control is defined as people’s belief that reinforcing events occur independently of their actions and that the future is determined more by fate, chance or luck.
• Internal responsibility refers to the belief that the responsibility or blame for people’s behaviour or environmental situations lies primarily with the individual.
• External responsibility, on the other hand, refers to the belief that the responsibility or blame for people’s life conditions lies chiefly with the system or environmental forces.

Question 3

Explain i) Internal locus of control - internal locus of responsibility (IC-IR)

Answer 3

This worldview is indicative of advanced societies such as the traditional American society. People with in internal locus of control (IC) believe that they are masters of their fate and that their actions do affect the outcomes they experience. Likewise, people with internal locus of responsibility (IR) attribute their current status and life conditions to their own efforts. Thus, they believe that success is due to one’s own efforts and lack of success is due to one’s own shortcomings or inadequacies.

Question 4

Explain ii) External locus control - internal locus of responsibility (EC-IR)

Answer 4

Individuals in this quadrant are characterized as believing that reinforcing events occur independently of their actions, and that the future is determine, by fate, chance or luck. At the same time, responsibility or blame for one’s life conditions is seen as residing within the Individual. This worldview may be indicative of depressed individuals.

Question 5

Explain iii) External locus of control - external locus of responsibility (EC-
ER)

Answer 5

These individuals believe that reinforcing events occur independently of their actions, and that the future is determined by fate, luck, or powerful others. Responsibility or blame for one’s life conditions is seen as lying chiefly with the system or environmental forces. Individuals falling within this worldview seem to manifest a spiritual belief that the future is predetermined. Thus, their emphasis is on finding a harmonious existence with their spiritualness.

Question 6

Explain iv) Internal locus of control - external locus of responsibility (IE-ER)

Answer 6

In this quadrant, people believe that reinforcement is contingent upon their actions, and that they can shape their own fate: however, the responsibility or blame for their life conditions may lie chiefly with the system or environmental forces. This quadrant, Sue proposes, reflects a healthy coping mechanism for the minority and culturally different people who have been subjected to extreme form of oppression, and who attempt to change their life conditions by working within the confines of the oppressive system.