Locus of Control

What is meant by the term "LoC" and how is it measured?

• LoC is the degree of control an individual feels they have over their own life

• measured on a continuum from internal to external.

What is the belief of those with an internal LoC?

• Those with an internal LoC believe things that happen to them are largely controlled by themselves.

• For example, doing well in an exam was because they worked hard.

What is the belief of those with an external LoC?

• Those with an external LoC believe that things that happen are outside of their control.

• For example, if they did well in an exam it might be because the textbook was good.

How is LoC positioned on a continuum?

• LoC is a scale, with internal LoC at one end of the continuum and high external at the other.

• Low internal and low external LoC lie in between.

Why are those with an internal LoC more likely to resist social influence?

• because they take personal responsibility for their actions, base their decisions on their own beliefs, are active seekers of information, are more self-confident, more achievement oriented, have higher intelligence, and have less need for social approval.

Why is LoC considered a dispositional factor in resistance to social influence? What does dispositional factors mean?

LoC is a dispositional factor influencing resistance to social influence because it is specific to the individual.

unique characteristics that influence behaviour and actions in an individual

What evidence supports the link between LoC and resistance to obedience?

• Holland (1967) repeated Milgram’s study and measured whether participants were internal or external.

• He found that 37% of internals did not continue to 450V, while only 23% of externals did not continue.

• This shows that internal LoC demonstrated greater resistance to authority (social influence), due to personal responsibility for their actions.

Limiting Evaluation: What evidence does not support the link between LoC and resistance to obedience?

Holland (1967) repeated Milgram’s study and 63% (the majority) of those with an internal LoC still obeyed suggesting that LoC is only a partial explaination of Social influence

Limiting Evaluation

• The relationship between LoC and resistance to social influence is only correlation, there are other related factors that have been suggested as being involved in resitance to social influence,

  • such as level of social anxiety,

  • sense of personal morality,

  • individuals who see an action as morally wrong are likely to resist regardless of social pressure,

  • and social status, as individuals with higher social status may feel more empowered to resist social pressure.