ipl-logo

Julian Rotter's Idea Of Locus Of Control

925 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: External locus of control

Does mankind actually have control over what happens in their lives? In 1966, Julian Rotter proposed the idea of locus of control. Locus of control refers to one’s beliefs about the power they have on their own lives. A person with an external locus of control thinks that outcomes in their lives are based on outside forces out of their control. An internal locus of control is the belief that people control their own outcomes, that life is a direct result of their efforts. Researchers have found that people with an internal locus of control are more independent, healthier, perform better academically, achieve more in their careers, and are less depressed (James, softchalkcloud.com). A person with an internal locus of control believe they have free will. A person with an external locus of control believe that free will is a false hope that can only be taken away from them, that their life is not in …show more content…

Say for instance, a boy has an English test tomorrow morning. He doesn’t spend much time studying and went out to dinner with his friends instead. When he gets his test back, he sees that he failed. If the boy had an internal locus of control would take responsibility of the failure and blame it on his lack of studying. If the boy had an external locus of control would say the teacher grades too harshly or that the test was too hard, anything but his own fault. If the boy views this situation internally, he will study for the test next time because he knows the outcome is determined by himself, just like Truman Burbank. If the boy views this situation externally, the boy will choose to give up his free will and give up in general because he believes his life is controlled by other forces. Free will is the ability to choose between different possible courses of action. If viewed externally, the boy will sacrifice his ability to choose different possible courses of action, just like Winston

Show More
Related
972 Words | 4 Pages

By the same token, Malcolm Gladwell argues with logistic reasoning that humans are able to become successful through drudgery and practice. Therefore, this answers the question: How much of what happens in our lives do we actually control? Notably, Gladwell, as well as myself stand by the statement that we actually have a lot of control over what happens in our lives. In the Sports Gene by David Epstein, he construes about two gold medal winning high jumpers.

Read More
825 Words | 4 Pages

In many cases, people may be forced by external circumstances to make decisions that they would not have made if such circumstances did not present themselves. The results of such decisions can either have a positive or negative impact on the lives of an individual. Such a case is well presented in the story A &P by John Updike where the major character, Sammy is portrayed to be indecisive. In this story, Sammy, the major character continually rebels against his coworkers, his boss, customers, and sometimes himself. His rebellion appears to have more disadvantages than advantages as it complicates his life in many cases.

Read More
784 Words | 4 Pages

In many cases, people may be forced by external circumstances to make decisions that they would not have made if such circumstances did not present themselves. The results of such decisions can either have a positive or negative impact on the lives of an individual. Such a case is well presented in the story A &P by John Updike where the major character, Sammy is portrayed to be rebellious. His rebellion appears to have more disadvantages than advantages as it complicates his life in many cases, which leads him into making uninformed decisions. It is, therefore, true to say that Sammy's rebellion in the John Updike's A & P is more futile than heroic and only makes negative complications in his life.

Read More
857 Words | 4 Pages

In the novel, “What Does It All Mean” by Thomas Nagel, it talks about different things throughout chapters 6 through 10, from free will, all the way up to death. In chapter 6, the prompt is free will, speaking about what it all means to have your own free will, for example the author explains that the person was given a choice between a chocolate cake, and a peach. The person decided to eat the cake, and did so in pleasure, knowing the side effects of what could happen. The next morning, the person looks in the mirror and wishes that she would’ve taken the peach because they think the chocolate cake is what made them look the way they do, but once you make a decisions you constantly wish you would’ve done the complete opposite, wishing you

Read More
567 Words | 3 Pages

(97). It is good to be young and innocent, like Will. Hurrying into responsibilities of adulthood is evil and foolish. The significance of personal choices in questions of good and evil is shown between Will and Jim. Good or evil can be determined by fate and the choices that are made.

Read More
124 Words | 1 Pages

When we ask the question, “How much of our own fate do we actually control?” , all participants have answered differently based on their own personal beliefs. With all these possible answers ranging from zero percent to one-hundred percent of our own fate we actually control what is the real answer? In Luck is not Chance by Emily Dickson, she clearly says it is by hard work, while in the Sports Gene by David Epstein he says it is not always hard work, by using an example of a genetic ability to high jump with little experience. Even though the Sport Gene is a good example of having natural talent, I still think it is based on how hard you work rather than genetic luck.

Read More
939 Words | 4 Pages

Fate is defined as something that simply just happens or “Falls upon your lap without any help or actions”. It’s a gesture that is not thought about because when it come it just come without your inner thought or “permission”. While freewill is the opposite, it’s defined as something you as a person caused upon yourself, the actions you did was the reason you are in the situation and you can’t blame anyone but yourself, it’s thought of as the inner consciousness of a person or the permission to give one’s self. Fate vs. Freewill is what causes this novel to be so powerful because as Oprah stated “ When you hear this story, it’s going to turn the way you think and free will and fate upside down.” I believe that Oprah Winfey made this claim

Read More
1270 Words | 6 Pages

Fate is Not to Blame: Victor Frankenstein as an Irresponsible Coward Some may believe in a higher power that already has our lives planned out to every detail and it is our destiny to continue on the path already cleared for us. The main character in the novel Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein, believes in this theory. Throughout the whole novel he continuously blames his mistakes and misfortunes on fate. However Victor Frankenstein's own destruction was not caused by destiny or fate, although he seems to think it is; rather failure to accept and take responsibility for his own actions.

Read More
1006 Words | 5 Pages

Three of the most prominent challenges are related to the problem of manipulation and coercion, the role of chance, and the difficulty of defining free will. The problem of manipulation and coercion poses a significant challenge to Hume's view of free will. If individuals are manipulated or coerced into performing an action, their internal psychological states may not reflect their true desires, motivations, or beliefs. In such cases, it seems unfair to hold the individual morally responsible for their actions. This challenge highlights the role that external factors can play in deciding human action, even in the absence of external constraints.

Read More
1495 Words | 6 Pages

Really, the question is: are external influences more important that internal? Many people will agree that external influences are more important in making people who they are because external influences shape your attributes and point of view, when humans are born there is more bad than good inside you and you can only change by divine intervention. So, how is it that external influences shape people? Interestingly characteristics and attributes are determined by external influences because of the way our parents raise us, for example, if your parents always overemphasized the importance of education you will hold it in high esteem and therefore when choices arise you will choose education over having fun.

Read More
443 Words | 2 Pages

Some may argue and say that situations and environments can control the individual. On one hand, this is true; however, most individuals can control themselves in the environment in most cases. This evidence supports my counterargument because an individual can control his or herself when it comes to different changes in the situation or environment. This evidence refutes the argument because an individual is in control of the situations and

Read More
713 Words | 3 Pages

Meaghan Griffin Professor Zank February 27th, 2018 Assignment # 8- Minor Prophets Jonah The historical setting in which Jonah occurred was no later than 760 B.C when Assyria was forced out of Damascus while Nineveh was part of an extensive complex of cities that compromised Aramean’s power. During this time God referred to Nineveh and Jonah in regards to his own resurrection, death.

Read More
464 Words | 2 Pages

To me control means having someone or something having the total power to control how you make your everyday decisions and you not really having a say so in any descions in your life. I feel like alot of people and things have control over my descions in my life. My boss is a big factor in the control over my life. I feel like she doesnt not want me to succeed and just wants me to work at my job forever and never better myself. Its to the point that she doesnt even know that im in school.

Read More
1218 Words | 5 Pages

One cannot control what happens to his or her own life - this is how fate impacts people’s lives - but one can control how he or she responds to events, showing that humans do have free will. If humans really choose their own values and essence, as Sartre postulates, then

Read More
1202 Words | 5 Pages

In order for free will free will to be tangible, an individual would have to have control over his or her actions regardless of any external factors. It can be argued that the inevitability of

Read More

More about Julian Rotter's Idea Of Locus Of Control

Related Topics

Open Document