Changing the focus of locus (of control): A targeted review of the locus of control literature and agenda for future research

Abstract

Locus of control-a fundamental individual difference variable that reflects individuals' beliefsabout the degree of control they have over events in their lives-has been formally studied for more than 50 years. Early scholarship demonstrated that locus of control was a key predictor of various work-related outcomes, ranging from job attitudes and affect to motivation and behavior. Despite this evidence, the majority of contemporary organizational research has moved away from examining locus of control as an independent construct. Instead, locus of control is now commonly examined as a component of core self-evaluation. However, recent research suggests that locus of control is in fact an independent, distinct concept and that core selfevaluation research should continue without incorporating locus of control in future work.This presents an opportunity to theoretically review locus of control as a distinct construct and explicate its salient characteristics. Accordingly, this review aims to further clarify the construct of locus of control, provide a foundation upon which research may build, and elucidate fruitful avenues for future research. KEYWORDSindividual differences, locus of control, organizational behavior 1 There are well over 6,000 articles, according to a Web of Science topic search.2 According to a Web of Science search, in the last decade, the majority (57%) of the approximately 45 articles published each year in the organizational sciences studied locus of control as a dimension of core self-evaluation.

The development of emotional intelligence, self‐efficacy, and locus of control in Master of Business Administration students

“…Our study suggests that MBA education can play an important role in helping students develop and enhance the specific psychological attributes of SE, EI, and LoC-I. People with these attributes appear to have a higher ability to identify important social cues in their environment and benefit from incidental learning situations (Lefcourt, 1976), which in turn helps them be more adaptive in the workplace (Dollinger & Taub, 1977) with higher EI being associated with higher leadership effectiveness (Rosete & Ciarrochi, 2005) and LoC-I being related to a wide range of positive work-related outcomes (Galvin et al, 2018). Importantly, the findings show that psychological competencies in EI, SE, and LoC-I can be developed, which may help refine MBA educational programs in their continuing effort to develop key knowledge, skills and ability outcomes.…”

“The Heidelberg Five” Personality Dimensions: Genome-wide Associations, Polygenic Risk for Neuroticism, and Psychopathology 20 Years after Assessment

“…This is in line with Rotter's view that Locus of Control is a consequence of learning experiences. Consistently, the construct also exhibits a malleable, state-like property [49]. However, the gene-set GO_bp:go_cellular_response_to_ionizing_radiation was overrepresented amongst the LOCC results (see SI).…”

Collectively engaging with theory in environmental education research

“…A great amount of research has reported the gaps between knowledge, values and action in environmental education (Heimlich & Ardoin, 2008). Internal LOC positively relates to variables such as empowerment, intrinsic task motivation (Galvin, Randel, Collins, & Johnson, 2018) and environmentally responsible behaviour (Kollmuss & Agyeman, 2002). Hence, LOC is a useful concept to practically work on the knowledge-value-action gap.…”