Locus of control AO3

Research (+)

• More convincing evidence that having an ILOC encourages independent behaviour

• Spector investigated LOC and conformity in 157 students, and found that those who score higher on external LOC were more easily persuaded and likely to conform in situations producing NSI

• Means the more internal your LOC the easier it is to resist social influence as people are less influenced by people and events around them

Exaggerated role (-)

• Rutter pointed out that LOC only comes into play in novel situations, so it has very little influence over our behaviour in familiar situations where your previous experience will always be more important

• E.g. When you have obeyed someone in the past, your memory of this event may lead you to obey again, showing that LOC plays little difference in repeat situations

• LOC can only be used in a singular fashion, and not in all situations, limiting its applicability

Lack of research support (-)

• Twenge found that over a 40 year period people were becoming more likely to resist social influence but were becoming more external in their locus of control

• Over time, people become accustomed to behaving in a certain way based on their prior experience rather than due to LOC

• Suggests having an ILOC does not necessarily lead to RSI

Applications (+)

• E.g. Behaviour during lockdown