Locus of control

The Dichotomy of Control: Internal vs. External

The concept of locus of control defines where a person places responsibility for events in his or her life.

Those with a predominantly internal locus of control perceive that they have power over their outcomes; they believe that their actions, effort and decisions directly influence their success or failure.

In contrast, the external locus of control is characterized by the belief that outside forces-such as luck, fate, other people, or social circumstances-determine the course of life.

This distinction is fundamental, since the perception of control (or lack thereof) dictates the emotional response to adversity.

Those who believe they are at the helm act to correct course; those who believe they are passive passengers resign themselves to drifting.

Impact on personal agency and resilience.

People with a strong internal locus of control tend to be more proactive, resilient, and achievement-oriented.

By attributing outcomes to their own effort, they persist in the face of obstacles and take better care of their physical and mental well-being, as they see health as manageable.

In the work and personal realm, they take responsibility for both successes and mistakes, which facilitates learning and growth.

In contrast, the external locus correlates with feelings of helplessness, increased anxiety and dependence on external validation, as the individual feels that their well-being is fragile and dependent on uncontrollable factors such as "good luck".

Transition from victimhood to empowerment

The therapeutic goal is to encourage a shift toward a healthy internal locus of control.

This does not imply taking blame for random events, but recognizing the ability to choose the response to any circumstance ("I cannot control what happens to me, but I can control how I respond").

Moving out of the victim role-where one blames the environment, the past or others-requires accepting that, although one may not have total control over the scenario, one always has agency over one's own behavior.

By adopting the belief that personal effort and dedication are key variables in the success equation, the motivation to act is rest