Explanations of residence

Question 1

What is locus of control

Answer 1

refers to how much control a person feels they have over their life events

Question 2

Internal locus of control (high control)

Answer 2

• Believe life events are due to personal effort and decisions
• less likely to obey/conform because they take responsibility for actions
• more likely to act on personal moral beliefs and be leads

Question 3

External locus of control (low control)

Answer 3

• Believe life events are due to fate, luck or other external forces
• more likely to obey/ conform as they shift responsibility onto authority figures

Question 4

Give me an example of both internal and external locus of control

Answer 4

• Internal LOC: “I won the award because I worked hard.”
• External LOC: “I won the award because it was my destiny.”

Question 5

A03 - research support for locus
(strength)

Answer 5

✅ Point: There is strong research evidence supporting the link between locus of control and conformity.

✅ Evidence: Atgis (1998) conducted a meta-analysis of multiple studies and found that individuals with a high external locus of control were more likely to conform than those with an internal locus of control.

✅ Explain: This supports Rotter’s theory as it suggests that those who feel less in control of their lives are more likely to follow the majority rather than act independently. It confirms that external LOC individuals are more susceptible to social influence.

✅ Link: Since this was a meta-analysis, it strengthens the reliability and validity of the theory by combining results from multiple studies, increasing generalizability across different populations.

Question 6

A03 - limited explanation
(weakness)

Answer 6

✅ Point: Locus of control does not always predict behavior, as previous experiences often have a stronger influence.

✅ Evidence: Rotter (1982) argued that locus of control only affects decisions in new situations. In familiar situations, people rely on past experiences rather than their LOC.

✅ Explain: This suggests that even individuals with an internal LOC may still conform or obey if they have done so in similar past situations. For example, someone with an internal LOC may still follow authority in a work environment if they have always obeyed managers in the past.

✅ Link: This means that LOC is a limited explanation for obedience and resistance because it only applies to specific situations, reducing its overall explanatory power.

Question 7

A03 - research support for locus of control and social responsibility

Answer 7

✅ Point: Research evidence suggests that individuals with an internal locus of control are more likely to show social responsibility and resist authority.

✅ Evidence: Oliner & Oliner (1988) interviewed non-Jewish people who lived through the Holocaust and compared 406 individuals who rescued Jews with 126 individuals who did not. The rescuers had a higher internal LOC and scored higher on social responsibility measures.

✅ Explain: This suggests that people with an internal LOC are more likely to take responsibility for their actions and resist authority when moral responsibility is involved. They are less likely to obey orders that go against their moral code.

✅ Link: However, this study also suggests that social responsibility might be an even bigger factor than LOC, meaning that locus of control alone might not fully explain resistance to obedience.