The Benefits and Drawbacks of Having an Internal Locus of Control

Mastering Your Fate: Benefits and Pitfalls of an Internal Locus of Control

Patrick Karsh
4 min readMay 18, 2024

An internal locus of control is a psychological concept where individuals believe that they have control over the events and outcomes in their lives. People with an internal locus of control attribute their successes and failures to their own actions and decisions, rather than external factors or luck. This mindset can have profound effects on various aspects of life, including personal development, career, relationships, and mental health. However, like any psychological trait, it has both benefits and drawbacks. This article explores the pros and cons of having an internal locus of control.

Benefits of an Internal Locus of Control

Increased Motivation and Initiative

Individuals with an internal locus of control tend to be more motivated to achieve their goals. They believe that their efforts directly impact their success, which drives them to take initiative and persist in the face of challenges. This proactive attitude can lead to higher levels of achievement in both personal and professional life.

Greater Resilience

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Patrick Karsh

NYC-based Ruby on Rails and Javascript Engineer leveraging AI to explore Engineering. https://linktr.ee/patrickkarsh