Locus of control as a bipolar internal-external expectancy construct from Rotter's social learning theory¶

Theory · All theories
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The article describes locus of control, following Rotter (1966), as "a generalized belief that certain factors control the events of one's life", conceptualized as "a bipolar continuum ranging from a belief in an external locus of control to a belief in an internal locus of control". Internals see themselves as masters of their own fate while externals hold a cynical view of their power to influence their destinies. The study measures this construct with the Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale for Children, scored in the external direction.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Measured with a locus of control scale such as the Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale for Children

Constraints¶

• The article questions the construct's utility for discriminating clinical from normal adolescent populations

Target Learners¶

• adolescents

Target Learning Objectives¶

• academic achievement
• understanding of personal control over outcomes

Claims¶

Related Theories¶

• Interpersonal styles equated with generalized expectancies in social learning theory
• Social learning theory expectancy framework (generalized and specific expectancies)

Examples¶

-

Key Sources¶

• Brown, Ronald T. (1980). Some Misgivings About Locus of Control Orientation and its Relationship to Intelligence, Academic Achievement, and Delinquency. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED197263