Is Control A Complex And Multidimensional Construct That Has Spawned A Large Body Of Research?

First, I focus on the construct of self-control as the act of imposing actions in order to regulate one’s behavior (Bandura, 1989; Vohs & Baumeister, 2004). Self-control can be described as the ability to impose intentional and productive actions in order to regulate one’s thoughts, emotions, and behavior (Bandura, 1989; Vohs & Baumeister, 2004). Within the psychological sciences self-control is often highly related and referred to the theory of self-regulation (Bandura, 1989; Vohs & Baumeister, 2004).

The normal reaction to feelings of helplessness and vulnerability is often a need to regain control–

I think that most people do not have an internal locus of control in all situations. For example, in a natural disaster or personal tragedy, you cannot control the events happening around you. The only thing you can control is your reaction to these events. I myself am a bit of a control freak. I like to be in control of my life and the situations or experiences I may be involved in. In situations where I have no control I can get very upset. It has taken me a long time to realize that I cannot control everything and everyone in my life. All I can control is my reaction to the people in my life and the situations I may be faced with where I do not have control. Getting

The amount of each type of control helped assess a variety of mental disorders. This questionnaire was given to high school students since 1951 by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (Twenge, 2010). Twenge found dramatic increases in anxiety and depression over the past five decades. By comparing External and Internal locus of control, Twenge discovered that most teens are transitioning to an External locus of control. Although these questionnaires were given to high school students, children of all ages have shown an increase in “external control.” Twenge continued studies with anxiety and anxiety disorders. Recently, she published a study where she analyzed data collected from 1960 to 2002. Using a scale that was similar to Rotter’s, but more fit for younger children called the Nowicki-Strickland scale. Children from ages 9-14, as well as college students, showed an increase from internal to an external locus of control. Based on Twenge’s findings, the average child in 2002 was eighty percent more likely to believe in external control than a child

Locus of control, when feelings are at normal levels, are just a way for people to determine which category they fall into. In a self-test that I participated online, individuals are able to determine whether they tend to perceive their lives under an internal locus of control or external locus of control (Psychology Today, 2015). This concept is also very prevalent in my own life as well as my fellow college peers. In college, especially in the first year, many students experience their first time living away from home. While this may make many individuals feel as though they are now in complete control of their lives, excess amount of this feeling can leave individuals feeling extremely guilty for any wrong doings or blame themselves for failure. I have seen this in my suitemates as she feels that no matter what she does that she is in complete control of what happens to her, almost a feeling of invincibility, when in reality, though she is in control of her actions, she cannot prevent bad events from happening to her. She has a strong internal locus of control, but her locus of control does not transcend onto others, therefore she cannot control the actions of others done unto her. On the other end of the spectrum, living away from home for the first time may cause individuals to feel like they have no control of their lives because no matter what they do bad things continue to happen and they blame outside forces for these unfortunate events. I have also seen this in myself very much so this year. This is due to being a part of an organization where my schedule down to almost every minute of my day is dictated or outlined by my coaches and advisors. While they have my best interest in mind, this feeling that my daily life is out of my own control

One example indicates that happy people tend to internalize feelings of achievement when they have been successful, while switching to an external locus of control by blaming outside, unstable factors for failure events. Depressed people, on the other hand, typically internalize failures while refusing to take credit for successes. This effect is an informational influence on the observer’s perceptions. In addition, there are also processing effects created by affect that influence perception. For example, a happy person is likely to skip more details as they are less systematic in their observations, while people with negative attitudes are more

According to previous research on the feelings toward individuals who could or could not control their outcomes, one may assume that undesirable emotions such as anger would

The authors of this study are interested in how decreased emotional regulation is related to hostility and anger, which in turn can lead to symptoms of depression, GAD or social anxiety.

I believe that an internal locus of control can be beneficial to have in all situations. It requires quick thinking and life experience. A take charge type of person will have a more internal locus of control and I feel that is what I embody. I try to control events in my life so that I do not get into situations I do not want to be in. I think ahead and prepare for the what-ifs. In this journal, I will discuss times of having an internal locus of control is not helpful.

Previous research has suggested that there are certain individuals who are more prone to an illusion of control than others (e.g. Alloy & Abramson, 1979; Biner et al., 1995; Delfabbro & LeCouteur, 2009; Friedland et al., 1991; Langer, 1975; Rudski, 2004). Rotter (1966) proposed that ones’ locus of control, which refers to an individual’s generalised expectancy of success based on their previous experience, will influence ones predisposition to illusory control.

Control theory as it is today, is largely a modern concept in which sociologists have come to recognize, that focuses less on the offender themselves but moreover looking at the methods of controlling deviant behaviors. Although, it can be said that much of its roots have derived from thinkers such as Aristotle, Hobbes, and Durkheim, but the focal point of surveillance in control theory was mainly examined by Michel Foucault. (Downes, Rock, & McCormick,

. In especially, Ajzen & Madden, (1986) and Chang (1998) defined that perceived behavioral control estimates the perception of how well one can control factors that may facilitate/restrain the actions needed to do with a specific situation. Perceived behavioral control is defined to be a function of control beliefs (CBs) that point to one’s perception of the presence/absence of resources/opportunities required to perform a specific behavior, and his/her estimation of the level of importance of such resources/opportunities for the accomplishment of outcomes. Moreover, many studies have explained that people’s intention/behavior is positively affected by their self confidence in their ability to perform the behavior (e.g., Baker et al., 2007;

Sometimes people may often find it hard control their own emotions, however every person has the power to control what they can feel.Dr Edelstein in his book, Three Minute Therapy, “ external events and people cannot make us feel a certain way , even though it often seems that way”. This means that although you may feel like someone is controlling how you feel, you always have the choice to feel what u want . he also concludes that ur feelings come from your thinking. An example is if passengers in a plane were to be ordered to jump out using a parachute all of them would feel the same thing if they didn't have any control of their emotions. But since they can control.what they think and feel each passenger may feel a different way. In addition

However, it is the action or behavior (experiential avoidance) that leads to the problem. Furthermore, according to the ACT model, when clients try and control these unwanted thoughts and emotions they actually only increase their difficulty (sadness about feeing unwanted or worthless).

One approach of emotional self-regulation is reappraisal, as a strategy for diminishing negative affect. Oschner et al. (2002) examined this in an fMRI study focusing on the neurological basis of reappraisal and it’s efficacy as a possible coping strategy to negative stimuli or stressors. The study employed fifteen neurotypical right-handed female volunteers. They were then placed into two conditions, an attend trial, where they were tasked with allowing themselves to respond emotionally and be mindful of their emotions without trying to alter them, and a reappraise trial, where they were asked to reappraise the images cognitively in an attempt to decrease their negative