Health Locus of Control Model

1. Health Locus of
Control Model
Hira Fatima
Lecturer Psychology
Government Post Graduate College for Women, Raiwind

2. Locus of
Control
• A locus of control orientation is
a belief about whether the
outcomes of our actions are
contingent on what we do
(internal control orientation) or
on events outside our
personal control (external
control orientation)

3. Historical
Background
• In 1954, psychologist Julian Rotter
suggested that our behavior was
controlled by rewards
and punishmens and that it was these
consequences for our actions that
determined our beliefs about the
underlying causes of these actions.
• In 1966, Rotter published a scale
designed to measure and assess
external and internal locus of control.
The scale utilizes a forced-choice
between two alternatives, requiring
respondents to choose just one of two
possibilities for each item.

4. Internal and External Locus
of Control
• Internal Locus of Control: A belief that reinforcement is
brought about by one’s own behavior.
• External Locus of control: belief that reinforcement is
under the control of other people, fate or Luck.
• It is important to note that locus of control is a
continuum. No one has a 100 percent external or
internal locus of control. Instead, most people lie
somewhere on the continuum between the two
extremes.

5. Internal vs External Locus of Control
Internal Locus of Control
• Are more likely to take responsibility for their actions
• Tend to be less influenced by the opinions of other people
• Often do better at tasks when they are allowed to work at
their own pace
• Usually, have a strong sense of self-efficacy
• Tend to work hard to achieve the things they want
• Feel confident in the face of challenges
• Tend to be physically healthier
• Report being happier and more independent
• Often achieve greater success in the workplace
External Locus of Control
• Blame outside forces for their circumstances
• Often credit luck or chance for any successes
• Don't believe that they can change their situation
through their own efforts
• Frequently feel hopeless or powerless in the face of
difficult situations
• Are more prone to experiencing learned
helplessness.

6. HEALTH LOCUS OF CONTROL
MODEL

7. HEALTH LOCUS OF CONTROL MODEL
• The Health Locus of Control model is based on Rotter’s Social
learning theory. It proposes that health behaviours are predicted by
the extent to which an individual believes they can perform the
behaviour and that it will be effective.
• Individuals with an internal locus of control (LOC) are more likely to
take action to manage their symptoms than an individual with more
external LOC who believes their symptoms are a result of chance and
looks to other sources, such as the doctor, to manage their symptoms.

8. Health Locus of Control
Model
• The most widely used measure is the Multiple Health Locus
of Control (MHLC) Scale, evaluating beliefs about health
behaviours in general, and the variance in results might
relate to individuals holding different beliefs depending on
the situation.
• For example, an individual might have a high internal LOC
for weight loss (i.e. they believe they are responsible and
have the ability to reduce their weight) but a high external
LOC for managing their arthritis, believing this is the
doctor’s responsibility.

9. Health Locus of
Control
• Among adults, external locus of control is
associated with negative health outcomes,
whereas internal locus of control is associated
with favorable outcomes.
• On contary, Ryan et al (2003) found that within
a medical consultation, contrary to the HLC
model, an external LOC increased the patient’s
perceived control over their ability to live with
their arthritis. This may be because patients
view their condition as too unpredictable and
mutifacted to manage without external
professional support and view the consultation
as a partnership where their issues could be
voiced and management appropriate to their
needs provided.

10. THANK YOU!