Being aware of the locus of control that we are applying in each of the situations in our lives will help us maintain a healthier life.
Let’s talk about locus of control. We understand by locus of control as what we think has control over our destiny. In some facets of our life we can have control over what we do and in others it may be something external that exercises that control.
Julian B. Rotter developed this concept in 1954 and defined it as the degree to which people perceive that results can be controlled internally or can be controlled externally. From this arise the two types of locus of control:
We define internal locus of control as that tendency that we have to think that what happens to us or we do is under our controlwe are responsible for it. These types of people have a great capacity for resilience, being able to move forward in adverse circumstances and overcome, thinking that only they can change the situation. This is where people’s willpower influences. These types of people usually have good self-esteem with high self-efficacy and the power to persist. They are people who are not easily defeated in the face of adversity. They are characterized by:
People who have a tendency to think that what happens to them is because they do not have controlcomes marked from someone or something external. They have a tendency to think that what happens to them is the other person’s fault, bad luck, destiny,… This feeling of control is based on learned helplessness: “it doesn’t matter what we do, things are going to happen the same way” (chivo expiatory). They are characterized by:
Being mentally weak.
They lack social skills.
They are easily defeated.
They lack the will to do things.
They are more dependent people.
They find it difficult to make decisions easily.
Normally when We assume internal locus of control we have a healthier life. On these occasions it is difficult for us to let ourselves be defeated. An internal locus of control situation can be when we drive, we have control over the vehicle and what happens depends on us. Sometimes we may think that if everything goes well, it is our fault (internal), but if something goes wrong, for example an accident, it is the other’s fault (external).
Another situation in which we can see the external locus of control is when we ride in an airplane, we totally depend on the pilot who flies the plane, we cannot do anything. In situations like this it is very important that we have confidence in what the other is doing or is going to do.
Which locus is the most suitable?
There is no more appropriate locus of control, the important thing is maintain a balance between its; As Antonio Damasio says: “the power of homostasis“. Inadequate management of both can lead me to two different situations:
If we have an excessive internal locus of control We can fall into the mistake that everything depends on us, without knowing how to adapt to changing situations; with a feeling of excessive control. This situation is dangerous, because there may come a time when I become frustrated because I cannot control the situation.
If we have an excessive external locus of control We can easily fall into a state of learned helplessness and not assume any responsibility, always blaming the other. This situation is very common in people who think that it doesn’t matter what they do, nothing is going to change things.
