The Impacts of My Locus of Control Will Have on My Success?

 Introduction

Locus of control is a measure of the degree to which people feel accountable for their own behaviors. Individuals with a high internal locus of control believe that they control their own destiny and what happens to them is their own doing, while those with a high external locus of control feel that things happen to them because of other people, luck, or a powerful being. Generally, the internal Locus of Control means those who are more likely to take responsibility for their actions, tend to be less influenced by the opinions of other people, often do better at tasks when they are allowed to work at their own pace, tend to work hard to achieve the things they want, and likely to feel confident in the face of challenges. In contrast, external Locus of Control are those who are more likely to blame outside forces for their circumstances, credit luck for any successes, and frequently feel hopeless or powerless in the face of difficult situations. However, it is also important to remember that internal locus of control does not always mean "good" and external locus of control does not always equal "bad." Sometimes, having an external locus of control can be a good thing, particularly when a situation poses a threat to self-esteem or is genuinely outside of a person's control. For instance, a person who loses a video game that requires great teamwork may feel depressed if they have a strong internal locus of control. However, it is not totally one player's fault.

What Is Locus of Control?

Locus of control orientation is a belief about whether the outcomes of our actions are contingent on what we do or on events outside our personal control. It was explained by psychologist Philip Zimbardo in his book "Psychology and Life"(Cherry, 2021). The consequences of our actions helped determine our beliefs about the likely results of future behaviors.

Our anticipation of certain results influences our behaviors and attitudes. In other words, an individual is more likely to pursue a goal if they have been rewarded for similar efforts in the past and believe that they can influence their chances of future success. However, it is important to note that locus of control is a continuum which means no one has a hundred percent external or internal locus of control. Instead, most people lie somewhere on the continuum between the two extremes.

What My Locus of Control Score Means?

According to the Locus of control test, I have a mixed attribution style when it comes to success(57%). It says sometimes I interpret my success as a result of my skills, intelligence, and nice personality. Sometimes, I attribute it to external factors, such as luck, ease of tasks, or other people's help. As a consequence, I don't always take the credit I deserve. My self-esteem, motivation, and general well-being would most likely be improved if I realized that I actively influence positive events in my life.

The Impacts of My Locus of Control Will Have on My Success?

When I think about questions such as who controls my happiness? Who is responsible for my income? My answer is there is always something I can control and something I cannot. I have a mixed attribution style when it comes to success. Therefore, I can balance the external and internal control to get a better result. For instance, due to the pandemic of COVID-19, I may consider it is an event that I can not totally control. So, I will focus on anything I can control to fight it back and make new strategy to adopt it during the event. I think life is always a hybrid from choices and destiny. You cannot choose who to be your parents but you can choose how to treat them and how to fight for your future. If you depressd about your destiny, you will miss the opportunity to fight it. If you think you can totally control who to be your parents, it would be ridiculous. 

Reference

Cherry, K. (2021, August 17). Are you in control of your destiny, or are you at the mercy of chance? Verywell Mind. Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-locus-of-control-2795434#toc-what-is-locus-of-control 

Melody Wilding, L. M. S. W. (2020, January 21). Successful people have a strong 'locus of control'. do you? Forbes. Retrieved February 8, 2022, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/melodywilding/2020/03/02/successful-people-have-a-strong-locus-of-control-do-you/?sh=7d87cb317af3