Locus of Control

• Internal locus of control -> belief that events are under control, e.g. success or failure due to own efforts (or lack of).
• External locus of control -> belief that events are outside own control, explained by luck, other people, weather, etc.
• Locus of control continuum -> people can be high internal, high external, or anything in between (e.g. low/moderate).
• Attribution -> the process of explaining other people's behaviour and also explaining our own behaviour. Internals attribute their health behaviours to causes they can control (e.g. avoid risk factors or addiction). Externals attribute their health behaviours to causes they cannot control (e.g. addiction is down to genes).
• Evaluation of locus on control (positives) -> practical uses, support for effectiveness.
• Evaluation of locus of control theory (negatives) -> limited role for LoC in health.