Locus of Control

Do you believe you have control over the events in your Life? Take our Locus of Control test and find out where you fall on the spectrum. Learn about the strength of your personal sense of power and discover how you can work with what you learn to better achieve your goals.

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1 External Locus of Control

Based on your responses, you have an external locus of control. You typically believe that events in people’s lives are caused by external forces, and are outside of their own control. These external factors can include God, other people, nature, etc.

Those with an internal locus of control are often described as having a “fixed mindset” – they believe that people people’s talents (like intelligence or athletic ability) are fixed traits they have from early on in life. Those with a fixed mindset believe that great leaders are usually born, not made.

Those with an external locus of control are much more likely to be religious than those who have an internal locus of control. They often believe that God has a plan for their lives. When bad things happen to them, people with an external locus of control are likely to attribute these happenings to God’s plan or fate. You also may be very superstitious – people with an external locus of control tend to believe in things like ghosts and spirits.

Because you have an external focus of control, you often blame your failures on external factors. For example, if you lost your job, it may have been because your boss was a jerk who disliked you from the beginning.

Your external locus of control can be helpful when dealing with failures in the short-term. However, if this is happening often you may need to do some soul-searching to see what your role was in these failures. Being more critical of yourself will help you be more successful in the long-term.

2 Internal Locus of Control

Based on your responses, you have an internal locus of control. You believe that the events in people’s lives are caused by their own choices, and are completely within their own control.

Those with an internal locus of control are often described as having a “growth mindset” – they believe that people are capable of learning anything and doing anything they set their minds to. They do not believe that greatness is born – they believe greatness is made.

Those with an internal locus of control are more likely to be skeptical about things like ghosts, spirits, and anything else paranormal. You are not very superstitious at all.

Because you have an internal locus of control, you blame yourself when you don’t meet your goals. This gives you a strong drive to do your best and succeed. When you do fall short of your goals, you aren’t afraid to pick yourself back up and try again. You refuse to quit. Those with an internal locus of control are more likely to be successful achievers in the long-term.

Your internal locus of control can be helpful when dealing with challenges in the long-term, but in the short-term, you can be very hard on yourself. You truly are your own worst critic.