LOCUS OF CONTROL

I'm teaching my son about Internal Locus of Control and External Locus of Control.

"In personality psychology, locus of control is the degree to which people believe that they have control over the outcome of events in their lives, as opposed to external forces beyond their control. Understanding of the concept was developed by Julian B. Rotter in 1954, and has since become an aspect of personality studies. A person's "locus" (plural "loci", Latin for "place" or "location") is conceptualized as internal (a belief that one can control one's own life) or external (a belief that life is controlled by outside factors which the person cannot influence, or that chance or fate controls their lives).[1]
Individuals with a strong internal locus of control believe events in their life derive primarily from their own actions: for example, when receiving exam results, people with an internal locus of control tend to praise or blame themselves and their abilities. People with a strong external locus of control tend to praise or blame external factors such as the teacher or the exam.[2]"

​Then it hit me!

That's exactly what we are like with our health!

External locus of control people will expect a doctor to tell them what to do and when to do it and they expect that doctor to "fix" them!

Internal locus of control people will expect a doctor to help guide them, but never expect a doctor to "fix" them and most likely will have a skeptical mind when listening to the doctor.

I used to get so irritated that doctors do not push the "eat a healthy diet and get exercise" regimine like they are supposed to.

Then I realized....they most likely feel like NO ONE listens to it because so many arrive with the expectation of being fixed with a pill or surgery!

There is an abundant access to knowledge by any single person alive today. We have the ability to have the same "knowledge" as a doctor if we so wish.

I have always loved learning about the human body and how it works. I have never had a desire to be a doctor! Ha!

But I do love learning about my body and how I can make it feel it's best!

I approach my doctor with the attitude of "together we can fix anything".

What are you?

External Locus of Control
or
Internal Locus of Control?
​