describes the belief that events can be controlled by one's own behavior.

People with a high locus of control (LOC) believe that success is determined less by external circumstances and is essentially in their own hands. Events are experienced as a consequence of one's own actions. A high locus of control also means that the reasons for failure are sought in oneself and that, as a result, the activity to achieve a goal is increased instead of giving up á la "There's nothing we can do".

The opposite would be an "external control belief" - the belief in pre-determination or external determination, which results in a felt helplessness and passivity due to a lack of influence. The model of chance, fate, or external control can be understood as a protective mechanism of the human psyche to maintain self-confidence in case of failure.