<P> The development of locus of control is associated with family style and resources, cultural stability and experiences with effort leading to reward . Many internals have grown up with families modeling typical internal beliefs; these families emphasized effort, education, responsibility and thinking, and parents typically gave their children rewards they had promised them . In contrast, externals are typically associated with lower socioeconomic status . Societies experiencing social unrest increase the expectancy of being out - of - control; therefore, people in such societies become more external . </P> <P> The 1995 research of Schneewind suggests that "children in large single parent families headed by women are more likely to develop an external locus of control". Schultz and Schultz also claim that children in families where parents have been supportive and consistent in discipline develop internal locus of control . At least one study has found that children whose parents had an external locus of control are more likely to attribute their successes and failures to external causes . Findings from early studies on the familial origins of locus of control were summarized by Lefcourt: "Warmth, supportiveness and parental encouragement seem to be essential for development of an internal locus". However, causal evidence regarding how parental locus of control influences offspring locus of control (whether genetic, or environmentally mediated) is lacking . </P> <P> Locus of control becomes more internal with age . As children grow older, they gain skills which give them more control over their environment . However, whether this or biological development is responsible for changes in locus is unclear . </P> <P> It is sometimes assumed that as people age they will become less internal and more external, but data here have been ambiguous . Longitudinal data collected by Gatz and Karel imply that internality may increase until middle age, decreasing thereafter . Noting the ambiguity of data in this area, Aldwin and Gilmer (2004) cite Lachman's claim that locus of control is ambiguous . Indeed, there is evidence here that changes in locus of control in later life relate more visibly to increased externality (rather than reduced internality) if the two concepts are taken to be orthogonal . Evidence cited by Schultz and Schultz (2005) suggests that locus of control increases in internality until middle age . The authors also note that attempts to control the environment become more pronounced between ages eight and fourteen . </P>

Explain the two areas of focus for locus of control