Control and Lifestyle

"When I go to a buffet, I can't control myself.  I always eat too much and feel bloated and guilty after I leave."

Such self control regrets are frequent consequences of unhealthful lifestyle decisions.  So, while healthful behavior is much more complex than simple self control, understanding your self control strengths and weaknesses does help empower you to make choices that facilitate physical and mental health.

Locus of control arguably is the self control concept that has been studied longest and that is best understood.  In short, locus of control primarily is divided into two types - internal and external.  As the terms suggest, an internal locus of control (ILOC) describes an orientation in which an individual believes that she/he determines her/his own fate.  Conversely, those with an external locus of control (ELOC) regard their fate as residing somewhere outside the self.  Accordingly, ILOC persons are more likely to look within for lifestyle guidance and ELOC persons, to look anywhere but within.  Returning to the buffet example, an ILOC individual grapples with overeating by considering how to immunize herself from going overboard during the next buffet, such as by planning to drink a large quantity of water just before entering the dining room.  An ELOC individual, by contrast, would try to find someone or something else to do the job, such as by asking a friend to make a plate for her.

Obviously, LOC is a relative thing.  Clearly, there are some issues more easily addressed via an ILOC, such as overeating, and some that are more suitable for an ELOC, such as being tutored to learn organic chemistry.  However, sometimes desirable outcomes are best achieved via a combined ILOC and ELOC approach.  You might both drink a large quantity of water just before entering the dining room, and stay seated during the meal while your friend makes a plate for you.  Similarly, you might master organic chemistry both by changing your private work habits and by being tutored.

Whether one is more inclinded toward an ILOC or ELOC is believed to be rooted in core self-evaluations, meaning that self-appraisals predispose how we perceive our experiences and our environments.  The concept is important for today's blog post because core self evaluation correlates with tendencies toward ILOC, feelings of esteem and capability, and general emotional stability.  However, it requires discussion, since psychologists have been uncertain how core self evaluation and ILOC relate to each other.  For instance, is ILOC separable from core self evaluation, and, if so, what are the implications for how one determines environmental influences? 

Russell E. Johnson and his colleagues (2015) considered all the above issues in four experimental samples.  They teased apart when ILOC was most salient for our well-being, when ELOC was most salient, and when neither were significant.  Results indicated several noteworthy conclusions.  Johnson et al. found that LOC, in general, correlated with job satisfaction, supervisor ratings given to workers, and life satisfaction.  However, all such positive correlations were stronger for ILOC than for ELOC persons.  That is, an individual who believed that she controls her own fate was more likely to do well in all three areas than were those who looked toward external control.

The lesson is clear: Know when to look internally and when to look externally for your primary health focus.  As mentioned, the two foci need not necessarily conflict.  Although an ILOC is a good default, there are times when any reasonable person would look outside himself.  That said, ELOC guidance must always be filtered through an ILOC.  For instance, if you need guidance to learn organic chemistry, you cannot passively receive that guidance. You must embrace the guidance proactively.  Take what you have been taught and work it through in your own unique manner.  That ILOC approach to ELOC guidance is effective whether you are endeavoring to learn chemistry, to stop smoking, or to develop a more consistent exercise habit.      

Reference

Johnson, R. et al. (2015).  Getting to the core of locus of control: Is it an evaluation of the self or the environment?  Journal of Applied Psychology, 100, 5, September, 1568-1578. 

doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/apl0000011.