Locus of Control explanation

• Locus of control. Rotter (1966)


  Refers to the extent of individuals perception on how much control they have over the events that influence their lives , as opposed to external influences.
• Internal LOC

  People with internal LOC will have a high level of personal control, takes responsibility for their own actions, are achievement orientated and can resist pressure from others.

  • e.g how well you do on a test depends how hard you studied.
• External LOC

  People with external LOC believe that events in their life happen outside their control, are more influenced by others and dont take responsibility for their actions.

  • e.g blame your “bad“ teacher for failing an exam
• People with high internal locus of control tend to be more resilient when faced with difficult situations as they believe they can change them through their own efforts
• continuum scale


  most ppl arent purely internals or externals so they are placed on a scale ranging from high internal to high external.
• high internal LOC


  more likely to resist pressures to conform/obey as theyre more resilient, self-assured and tend to take responsibility so theyre more likely to base decisions on their own beliefs.
• strength- supporting evidence (Holland)


  • Holland (1967) repeated Milgrams study and measured whether pps were internals or externals.
  • 37% of internals didnt continue to highest shock levels , displaying greater resistance to SI, whilst 23% externals didnt continue.
  • supports idea that those with internal LOC more likely to resist pressures to obey/conform
  • increases validity
• limitation- not all research supports link between LOC + resistance (twenge)


  • Twenge et al (2004) analysed data from American LOC studies from over 40 years (1960 to 2002)
  • showed that ppl has become more independent but also more external in their LOC
  • contradicts and opposes view that internal LOC leads to resistance of SI as we would expect the Americans to be more internal
  • inconsistency of findings suggests LOC is less reliable explanation
  • decreases value of explanation
• Limitation - role of LOC in resisting SI may have somewhat been exaggerated 


  Rotter points out that LOC only comes into play in novel situations. it has very little influence over our behaviour in familiar situations. this means that people who have conformed or obeyed in specific situations in the past are likely to do so again even if they have a high internal LOC. this is a limitation because this means LOC can only explain a limited range of situations where people may resist social infleunce so LOC may not be as important as a factor