Locus of Control

Firstly, I think it is important for us, as future OT practitioners, to understand Locus of Control (LoC) so we can understand ourselves, our own biases, and our own tendencies. As we grow and find our therapeutic-use-of-self, knowing how we perceive where control lies in our lives will be important. People who have a higher internal LoC believe that they have more control over their future than people who have a higher external LoC who believe that things in the world just happen to them. However, like the YouTube video Locus of Control Definition and Examples of Internal and External (2013) explains, many people have attributes of internal and external locus of control. This will be important to understand where motivation comes from, how people lead, and how people want to be lead.

Secondly, it is important to understand LoC so you can determine future client’s perception of control and their personal situations. If a client has a higher internal locus of control, then they may be more motivated to be more independent. However, if a client has a higher external LoC then he/she may be more inclined to rely on you as the therapist to solve all of his/her problems. They may not be as inclined to grow and be independent. Understanding these differences in LoC could help therapists plan their treatment sessions and what kind of support to give. 

 

References

Meira, E. (2013, December 5). Are your patients out of control? The Science PT. https://thesciencept.com/are-your-patients-out-of-control/

Wikipedia. (2021, June 7). Locus of control. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locus_of_control