Personality - 10

Question 1

What is Rotters theory of locus of control about

Answer 1

Looks at amount or Control you think you have on aspects of your life

A generalised expectancy about the degree to which we control our outcomes

Question 2

What does the locus of control refer to

Answer 2

Locus of control refers to our individual views of the source for outcomes of life

Refers to our personal attribution system for why events occur

Refers to how much responsibility we take for what happens to us

Question 3

What are the two aspects of locus of control

Answer 3

Internal locus of control : attribute the outcomes to yourself

External locus of control : attribute outcomes to other things

Question 4

Describe an individual with an internal locus of control

Answer 4

Feel they have influence and control their outcomes
Their success and failures are determined by there own actions
Destiny is up to them
Accept credit for succes and blame for their failures
Take responsibility

Question 5

Describe individuals with an external locus of control

Answer 5

Believe that fate, is people more powerful than them determining what happens to them
Believe that their success and failures are covered by external factors such as the system, fate or luck.
Outcomes are out of their control
They take no responsibility for what happens to them

Question 6

Are individuals either internal or external

Answer 6

It is a continuum along which individuals vary

Thought to be general and specific

Question 7

How can we measure Locus of control

Answer 7

Via the DLA test, or Rotter locus of control scale

Question 8

What is norm mean locus of control for college students

Answer 8

52. 2 - females
53. 8 - males

Sd = 6

Question 9

The higher your score of locus of control what does this mean

Answer 9

The higher score - more internal - the more you tend to believe that you are generally responsible for what happens to you in personal achievement situations

Question 10

If dealing with success what locus of control is better

Answer 10

Internal is better - can take credit for your success

Question 11

If dealing with adversity and failure what locus of control is better

Answer 11

External - can blame set backs on other and on bad luck

Question 12

What behaviour does an internal locus of control predict

Answer 12

I control the consequences of my behaviour

Predicts better academic achievement 
Better interpersonal relations 
Greater efforts to learn 
Positive attitudes to exercise 
Lower cigarette smoking 
Lower hypertension and heart attacks

Question 13

What behaviour does an eternal locus of control predict

Answer 13

Behaviour outside of thei control

Lower efforts to deal with health
Lower levels of psych adjustment
Greater sense of satisfaction

Question 14

With reference to academic achievement what do externals do

Answer 14

Make excuses for poor performance and blame other

Basgall and snyder 1988

Question 15

What are internal locus of control people more likely to do with regards to health

Answer 15

Seek info about possible health problems

Greater tendency to take preventative steps to maintain health

Question 16

What were the results for external and internal locus of control people and their knowledge of TB

Answer 16

Internal - knew more , reated staff rating of knowledge higher , less satisfied

External - knew less, rated staff rating of knowledge lower, more satisfied
And

Question 17

What are external more likely to develop with reference to health

Answer 17

External locus of Control, more likely to develop psychological disorders as believe they have No control

Question 18

How do internal and external people develope ?

Answer 18

Shaped by interactions with others especially parents

Relates to social class - people from disadvantaged homes more likely to be external

Question 19

What is self efficacy

Answer 19

Refers to a persons perceived be expectations of success

Estimate of ones own ability to perform a task
Belief about our ability to perform behaviours

Question 20

When self efficacy is high what tends to occur

Answer 20

Confident that we can carry out tasks and we succeed

Question 21

When self efficacy is low what tends to occur

Answer 21

We worry that the skills needed are beyond our ability

Question 22

Given appropriate skills and adequate incentives, efficacy expectations are

Answer 22

A major determinant of people’s choice of activities 
How much effort they will expend 
How long they will sustain effort
 in dealing with stressful situations 
Will they persevere at task 
Can be situation specific

Question 23

What are those with high self efficacy more likely to do

Answer 23

Give up smoking or stick to exercise regimes - Schwarzer and fuchs 1995

Have more persistence and effort in study and better academic performance - Zimmerman 1995

Have better athletic performance - Bandura 1990

Question 24

What determined and individuals sense of self efficacy in a situation

Answer 24

Performance accomplishments - what had happened in the past

Vicarious experiences - observing that they succeed or fail

Verbal persuasion - a respected person argues persuasively that you have the ability

Emotional arousal - high arousal = anxiety and tension = lower feelings of self efficacy