<P> 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 "loci" (plural of "locus", Latin for "place" or "location") are conceptualized as internal (a belief that one's life can be controlled) or external (a belief that life is controlled by outside factors which they cannot influence, or that chance or fate controls their lives). </P> <P> 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 . </P>

The sense of having control over one’s life is called