Locus of Control Scale
The Instrument
The Locus of Control Scale was originally designed by Rotter in 1966. It is used to determine on what people think affects specific outcomes of their actions and life in general. People with an internal focus of control believe that they are able t influence the outcome of their actions, whereas people with an external locus of control believe more in luck and fate rather than themselves (Lefcourt, 1982).
My Score
The score I received was 10 points out of the possible 23. Having achieved a score that is in between the external and internal influence, it is obvious that my reasoning depends on the specific situation I find myself in. Nonetheless, the external factor reasoning dominates making me believe that I have little control over my life and that everything flows according to a certain predetermined plan. To some extent, this is true, however, I have always thought of myself as an apt person to make my own choices in life and thus determine my fate.
Interpretation
Although I have a clearly defined timetable and schedule for everything, it is obvious that I rarely get everything planned done. Either the neighbors turn on their music too loud and I get distracted, or something interesting is happening outside. Nonetheless, I still continue planning everything and keep things orderly (Lefcourt, 1982). I can, however, prefer to watch the TV during study time, and be more focused on that rather than writing an essay, or reading a book (Nowicki, 2016).
Although I do make attempts at being in total control, in my study at the University I am greatly dependent on external factors such as the mood of the professor at the exam. Of course, my test answers can hardly be questioned, but when the professor asks to elaborate or explain something, I am often left confused as having answered the question as required, the professor can either praise or be grumpy about my response (Nowicki, 2016). It is understandable, as professor’s a only humans and all of us need to express ourselves once in a while.
Changing my Locus of Control
It seems that changing my locus of control is impossible, as there are always external factors affecting my study, or being here in the US. However, I can always keep on trying to make the outcomes and results be more dependent on me rather than luck or chance. I can always have a plan B, thus in case of an unforeseen actions I can change over and still have things going as I have planned.
The Myer-Briggs Type Indicator Test
The Instrument
The pre-history of the appearance of the typology tests dates back to the works of Carl Jung, who in his book "Psychological Types" published in 1921 suggested that the basic psychological functions that help a person to perceive the world are four in number - thinking, feeling, intuition and sensation. This work was much more fundamental than the study by Katherine Briggs, who was simply interested in the differences in the characters of different people. But, having become acquainted with the typology of Jung, she supported her daughter Isabel Briggs-Myers.
The essence of psychological testing MBTI is that by measuring unique combination of personal human factors, it is possible to predict the person’s penchant for a certain type of activity, the style of action, the nature of solutions and other features that allow the person to feel comfortable and confident. For this were invented 4 scales, which explores the personality:
orientation of consciousness (introversion-extraversion)
orientation in the situation (common sense - intuition)
basis for decision-making (the Logos - the pathos)
ways to prepare the solutions (rationality - irrationality)
My Personality Type – ISTJ
Introvert – focused more in planning ahead and focusing on one’s own abilities instead of external help.
Sensory – we gather and get information from our sensory perception of the physical world/
Thinking - People of the thinking type (T) are more interested in causality than emotions. They may offend the feelings of others, without even noticing it.
Judging – all the decisions must be made asap. Being undecided about something can make us go crazy.
Interpretation
According to the Myers-Briggs typology, people with ISTJ (introversion, judgment, thinking, judgment) personality type are usually reserved, practical and quiet (Myers & Myers, 1995). This is true as I prefer order and organization in all spheres of life, including personal life, work, family and hobbies. I more prefer to spend time alone or with a small group of close friends instead of being part of a crowd. I love to focus on the details, and not to reflect on abstract information. My decisions are based on logic and objective data, not on personal feelings. I love to carefully plan all of my affairs (Myers & Myers, 1995).
I enjoy orderly life. All my things are well organized as I pay great attention to detail. Because of this need for order, I prefer to study and work according to a clearly defined timetable, given clear tasks and having been explained in detail the desired result (Priebe, 2015). I enjoy specific, concrete, factual information, while theoretical and abstract data are of little importance. I am responsible and realistic. I apply a logical approach to the objectives and completion of the projects, am able to maintain a steady pace of work, ignore the distractions in order to focus on the task at hand. Most often my friends call me reliable and trustworthy (Priebe, 2015).
Changing my Personality Type
Reference
Lefcourt, H. (1982). Locus of control : current trends in theory and research. Hillsdale, N.J: L. Erlbaum Associates.
Myers, I. & Myers, P. (1995). Gifts differing : understanding personality type. Palo Alto, California: Davies-Black Publishing.
No author. (2016). Locus of Control Scale. Accessed on the 31st of December 2016 at http://wilderdom.com/psychology/loc/RotterLOC29.html
No author. (2016). Myer-Briggs Test. Accessed on the 31st of December 2016 at http://www.goddessflight.com/per/type.php?type=istj
Nowicki, S. (2016). Choice or chance : understanding your locus of control and why it matters. Amherst, New York: Prometheus Books.
Priebe, H. (2015). How you'll do everything based on your personality type. Brooklyn, NY: Thought Catalog Books.
Appendix A
Locus of Control
1. a. Children get into trouble because their parents punish them too much. b. The trouble with most children nowadays is that their parents are too easy with them.
2. a. Many of the unhappy things in people's lives are partly due to bad luck. b. People's misfortunes result from the mistakes they make.
3. a. One of the major reasons why we have wars is because people don't take enough interest in politics. b. There will always be wars, no matter how hard people try to prevent them.
4. a. In the long run people get the respect they deserve in this world. b. Unfortunately, an individual's worth often passes unrecognized no matter how hard he tries.
5. a. The idea that teachers are unfair to students is nonsense. b. Most students don't realize the extent to which their grades are influenced by accidental happenings.
6. a. Without the right breaks one cannot be an effective leader. b. Capable people who fail to become leaders have not taken advantage of their opportunities.
7. a. No matter how hard you try some people just don't like you. b. People who can't get others to like them don't understand how to get along with others.
8. a. Heredity plays the major role in determining one's personality. b. It is one's experiences in life which determine what they're like.
9. a. I have often found that what is going to happen will happen. b. Trusting to fate has never turned out as well for me as making a decision to take a definite course of action.
10. a. In the case of the well prepared student there is rarely if ever such a thing as an unfair test. b. Many times exam questions tend to be so unrelated to course work that studying in really useless.
11. a. Becoming a success is a matter of hard work, luck has little or nothing to do with it. b. Getting a good job depends mainly on being in the right place at the right time.
12. a. The average citizen can have an influence in government decisions. b. This world is run by the few people in power, and there is not much the little guy can do about it.
13. a. When I make plans, I am almost certain that I can make them work. b. It is not always wise to plan too far ahead because many things turn out to be a matter of good or bad fortune anyhow.
14. a. There are certain people who are just no good. b. There is some good in everybody.
15. a. In my case getting what I want has little or nothing to do with luck. b. Many times we might just as well decide what to do by flipping a coin.
16. a. Who gets to be the boss often depends on who was lucky enough to be in the right place first. b. Getting people to do the right thing depends upon ability, luck has little or nothing to do with it.
17. a. As far as world affairs are concerned, most of us are the victims of forces we can neither understand, nor control. b. By taking an active part in political and social affairs the people can control world events.
18. a. Most people don't realize the extent to which their lives are controlled by accidental happenings. b. There really is no such thing as "luck."
19. a. One should always be willing to admit mistakes. b. It is usually best to cover up one's mistakes.
20. a. It is hard to know whether or not a person really likes you. b. How many friends you have depends upon how nice a person you are.
21. a. In the long run the bad things that happen to us are balanced by the good ones. b. Most misfortunes are the result of lack of ability, ignorance, laziness, or all three.
22. a. With enough effort we can wipe out political corruption. b. It is difficult for people to have much control over the things politicians do in office.
23. a. Sometimes I can't understand how teachers arrive at the grades they give. b. There is a direct connection between how hard 1 study and the grades I get.
24. a. A good leader expects people to decide for themselves what they should do. b. A good leader makes it clear to everybody what their jobs are.
25. a. Many times I feel that I have little influence over the things that happen to me. b. It is impossible for me to believe that chance or luck plays an important role in my life.
26. a. People are lonely because they don't try to be friendly. b. There's not much use in trying too hard to please people, if they like you, they like you.
27. a. There is too much emphasis on athletics in high school. b. Team sports are an excellent way to build character.
28. a. What happens to me is my own doing. b. Sometimes I feel that I don't have enough control over the direction my life is taking.
29. a. Most of the time I can't understand why politicians behave the way they do. b. In the long run the people are responsible for bad government on a national as well as on a local level.
Total score = 10 points
Appendix B
Personality Type (on the next page)
Result: ISTJ – Introvert/Sensing/Thinking/Judging
Appendix C
Personal Myer-Briggs Personality Profile
