internal locus of control

Meaning

1. 1noununcountabletechnical

   The belief that you, rather than luck or other people, mainly decide what happens in your life.

   Grammar: Often used with have: students with an internal locus of control.

   Patterns

   • have an internal locus of control
   • an internal locus of control in someone

   People with an internal locus of control believe effort leads to success.

   A strong internal locus of control helped her recover from setbacks.

   Students with an internal locus of control often study more independently.

Common combinations

have an internal locus of control

Entrepreneurs often have an internal locus of control.

strong internal locus of control

A strong internal locus of control is linked to motivation.

develop an internal locus of control

Teachers can help children develop an internal locus of control.

internal locus of control and success

Research connects internal locus of control and success at work.

Synonyms and how they differ

self-agency

Self-agency is the feeling that you cause your own actions, a narrower idea than a belief about all outcomes in life.

self-efficacy

Self-efficacy is belief in your ability to do a particular task, while internal locus of control is a general belief about who decides outcomes.

autonomy

Autonomy means freedom to decide for yourself, rather than a belief about cause and effect.

Opposites

Word family

locus noun

the place where something is centered

control noun

power to direct what happens

internal adjective

inside a person or thing

external locus of control noun

the belief that outside forces decide events

Commonly confused: internal locus of control or self-esteem?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “internal locus of control”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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