Locus of Control

• This is described as being a personality characteristic that people have.
• According to Rotter(1966) resisting the pressure to conform or obey depends on a person's locus of control(LOC)
• LOC refers to how much control a person has over their life.
• Internal- means responsible
• External- means not responsible
• Internal- things that happen are controlled by themselves.
• E.G. If id o well on my exams its because I worked hard. If I don't its because I didn't work hard.
• Forces within dictate outcomes.
• External- Things that happen are beyond my control.
• E.G. do well in exams- teacher helped enough.

  Don't do well- the teacher didn't help enough.
• Forces outside dictate outcomes.
• If a person has an internal LOC they can resist.
• If a person takes personal responsibility for their actions/experiences, more likely to base decisions on own beliefs, therefore resist pressure.
• Internal LOC- self confident, achievement orientated, higher intelligence and less need for social approval.