Choice or Chance: Understanding Your Locus of Control and Why It Matters

by Stephen Nowicki

How Much Do You Believe That What Happens to You Is the Result of Your Own Actions-or Do Circumstances Beyond Your Control Largely Determine Your Fate?Locus of Control (LOC) is a phrase used by psychologists to describe a widely effective way of assessing an individual's potential for success-personal, social, and financial.LOC measures how much you believe what happens to you is the result of your own actions or, conversely, of forces and circumstances beyond your control. People who accept that they are largely in control of their lives tend to do better than those who feel that fate or external factors rule what they do, especially in novel and difficult situations.This book explains LOC research, until now mainly confined to academic circles, in terms easily understandable to the average person. The author, a clinical psychologist who has spent nearly five decades investigating and writing about LOC, helps the reader to explore his or her own locus of control and what those orientations might mean for how life is lived. He discusses the extensively documented relationship between LOC and academic achievement, personal and social adjustment, health, and financial success.Dr. Nowicki notes that there has been an increasing tendency among Americans to feel as though their lives are slipping out of their control, and he identifies ways to reverse this negative trend.He describes how the Locus of Control is learned and demonstrates ways in which it can be changed to yield higher levels of achievement, success, personal satisfaction, and better interactions with others.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 17, 2016

About the author

Stephen Nowicki Jr., PhD, is the author of over 150 publications and presentations and the coauthor of several books. He received his PhD from Purdue University and lives in Georgia.

Reviews

[Brandon Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This explores an interesting field of psychology- the Locus of Control. Let me back up, the Locus of Control is a measurable trait that indicates how much control people perceive to have in their life, and whether they are shaped by their surroundings or if they shape their surroundings. I may be biased because I had the opportunity of attending Dr. Nowicki's lectures on the LoC, but I found this book incredibly applicable to better understanding the LoC's relation to many areas in psychology. He explores how mental illnesses, coping with physical injuries, and achievement in school can all be tied back to the LoC. A great read for anyone beginning their career in the middle of a pandemic. 4.2/5

[Debashri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very researched based with more focus on research results than actions that can be taken to become more internal than external.

If you want to know about LoC in relation to things like birth order and whether one's parents influence LoC and how and all those little details then this book is for you.

If you want a book that focuses on things you can actually do to become more internal then you will be disappointed. the action part is a small chapter in the end and not really anything in depth or different from what one usually can figure out for themselves.

the book itself however shows a lot of effort and is well written.

[Justin Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just started reading this book... A third the way through. As someone who works in sales,i find this most valuable from a personal development perspective. Secondly, I'm a parent, and having some greater insight into my behavior, understanding my individual locus of control, and what I can do to have a positive effect on my child LOC have already come to light. Great book, definitely recommend!

[Conway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scientific and useful description about LOC

This book introduces every aspects of LOC and analyzes the biological, psychological reason behind. You don't need to be a psychologist to fully understand this book. Really worth reading.