Locus of control — do you control your life, or does fate?

What is locus of control?

In 1966, Julian Rotter, a psychologist at Ohio University, published one of the most influential concepts in the history of psychology: locus of control. It describes a person's belief about what determines their life outcomes.

The scale is continuous, ranging from extreme internal control to extreme external control.

Internal Locus of Control

People with an internal locus believe that their own actions, decisions, and effort shape what happens to them. Research links internal locus to higher income, better health, greater wellbeing, and higher achievement.

External Locus of Control

People with an external locus believe their life is shaped by fate, chance, other people, or social systems. While this can aid acceptance of random events, it's associated with lower motivation and higher risk of learned helplessness.

What does research say?

Meta-analyses show internal locus correlates with 20–30% higher earnings, better health outcomes, higher educational achievement, and greater job satisfaction.

Important caveat: For people facing real discrimination or systemic barriers, believing "effort always pays off" can be false and harmful. Rotter himself emphasized that optimal is a realistic locus of control — believing we can influence many areas while acknowledging external factors.

Can locus of control change?

Yes. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) effectively shifts locus toward internal. Key techniques include attributing successes to your own actions, setting achievable goals, and regularly asking: "What in this situation depends on me?"

Take the test

Our Locus of Control test (13 forced-choice questions, based on Rotter's I-E Scale) measures where you fall on the internal-external continuum with a detailed interpretation.