In my last newsletter, entitled, “Two Buckets,” I discussed how our individual view of life affects our thoughts, our actions, and our feelings. Much of that piece explored our ability to discriminate between elements in our life that we can make happen versus facets of our daily existence over which we have little or no control. Today I would like to examine a similar topic that also greatly influences how we function daily.
That topic is “locus of control.” The term was originally the formulation of Julian Rotter and later elaborated upon by Bernard Weiner within the concept of “attribution theory.” Essentially, the notion of “locus of control” suggests that we all view our lives from one of two fundamental points of view. In this context, “locus” may be viewed as a synonym for “source “or “place.” There are two types of locus of control: internal and external.
Individuals with an external locus view life as an unstable and unpredictable situation. Those with an external locus see things as happening to them. The source of their life’s details and events lies outside them. To those with this life orientation, success or failure is the result of influences located outside, or beyond, their ability to choose or shape the outcome. Metaphorically, external locus individuals see themselves as a cork on the ocean of life, being pushed or pulled by waves and winds far beyond their ability to influence or steer against.
Conversely, those with an internal locus of control tend to account for life’s events and situations to choices they have made for themselves. They see the source of their happiness as lying within themselves. They see personal failures or aversive situations as being the result of their own behavior or decision. Even in cases in which the source of a given event is beyond their control, such as a natural disaster or stock market crash, these individuals tend to focus on how they can ameliorate the circumstance in some way.
The external locus person blames and laments;
the internal locus individual examines and acts.
Within my role as a trainer of future clinicians, I suggest to my graduate students that one of our treatment goals for all clients is to encourage the formulation of an internal locus of control. This is not the same thing as giving clients advice or even directing the session in some way. I point out to them that it is not our job to tell our clients what to think, but it is an appropriate goal of therapy to show clients a new way of how to think.
I point out to students that a trained “professional ear” can assess within five minutes whether a client has an internal or external locus of control. A skilled therapist listens to what her client is saying (content), the emotional context of the message (feeling), but also the method or focus of the remarks themselves (locus of control). Are the clients complaining, expressing frustration or helplessness, or are they examining their role in their situation critically or analytically? More importantly, are they attributing their negative emotions and situations to others or to their own actions? (Note: Clients never enter therapy to examine their successes or positive emotional states!) Simply stated: Where, in terms of internal vs. external locus of control, are they coming from?
Just as our article about the “two buckets” emphasized the need to direct our efforts toward events and situations over which we can exert some influence, locus of control invites us to look within for the choices and decisions that can improve our lives and generate more positive, self-reliant feelings.