Meaning & use
internal locus
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Meaning
nouncountable
the belief that you, rather than luck or other people, control what happens in your life.
Grammar: Usually followed by 'of control': an internal locus of control. The plural is 'internal loci' in formal writing.
Patterns
- an internal locus of control
- have an internal locus of control
- develop an internal locus of control
People with an internal locus of control tend to take responsibility for their actions.
She has a strong internal locus of control and rarely blames others for her problems.
Research shows that an internal locus of control is linked to better academic results.
Word forms
| plural | internal loci |
|---|
Common combinations
- an internal locus of control
- An internal locus of control can help students keep going when work is hard.
- have an internal locus of control
- Managers with an internal locus of control are more likely to take initiative.
- develop an internal locus of control
- Children can develop an internal locus of control through praise for effort.
- a strong internal locus of control
- Her strong internal locus of control made her determined to succeed.
Synonyms and how they differ
- self-determination
- Focuses on making your own choices, while internal locus of control is about believing your choices affect outcomes.
- personal agency
- Similar idea but broader; it refers to the ability to act and make a difference, not just the belief.
Opposites
Word family
- locus noun
- a particular place or center of something; also used in mathematics and biology.
- locus of control noun
- the general term for where a person believes control lies.
Commonly confused: internal locus or external locus?
internal locus vs external locus
An external locus of control is the opposite belief: that outside forces like luck or powerful people control your life.
Practice
A person who believes that hard work, not luck, decides success has ______.
Choose one answer.
'An internal locus of control' is the standard singular phrase. 'An internal loci' is wrong because 'loci' is plural and cannot follow 'an'. 'Internal locus of controls' is not a fixed phrase, and 'internally' is an adverb, not an adjective.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “internal locus”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.