Choice or Chance: Understanding Your Locus of Control and Why It Matters

by Stephen Nowicki

Overview

How Much Do You Believe That What Happens to You Is the Result of Your Own Actions-or Do Circumstances Beyond Your Control Largely Determine Your Fate? Locus of Control (LOC) is a phrase used by psychologists to describe a widely effective way of assessing an individual's potential for success-personal, social, and financial.LOC measures how much you believe what happens to you is the result of your own actions or, conversely, of forces and circumstances beyond your control. People who accept that they are largely in control of their lives tend to do better than those who feel that fate or external factors rule what they do, especially in novel and difficult situations. This book explains LOC research, until now mainly confined to academic circles, in terms easily understandable to the average person. The author, a clinical psychologist who has spent nearly five decades investigating and writing about LOC, helps the reader to explore his or her own locus of control and what those orientations might mean for how life is lived. He discusses the extensively documented relationship between LOC and academic achievement, personal and social adjustment, health, and financial success. Dr. Nowicki notes that there has been an increasing tendency among Americans to feel as though their lives are slipping out of their control, and he identifies ways to reverse this negative trend. He describes how the Locus of Control is learned and demonstrates ways in which it can be changed to yield higher levels of achievement, success, personal satisfaction, and better interactions with others.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781633880702
Publisher:	Prometheus Books
Publication date:	05/17/2016
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	673,349
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Stephen Nowicki is the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Psychology Emeritus at Emory University in Atlanta. During his forty years of teaching there, Dr. Nowicki has served as director of clinical training, head of the Psychological Center, and head of the Counseling Center. The recipient of numerous awards, Dr. Nowicki maintains an active clinical practice and is a founding fellow of the American Psychological Society, and a consultant to a variety of businesses, organizations, and public and private educational programs. He is the author of more than 350 publications and presentations, the coauthor of six books, and has appeared on CBS This Morning, NBC’s Weekend Today, NPR, and other programs.

Table of Contents

Preface 7

Acknowledgments 9

Introduction 11

Part 1 Beginning the Story of Locus of Control 15

Introduction to Part 1 17

Chapter 1 Locus of Control: What It Is and Why It Is Important 19

Chapter 2 A Little History of Locus of Control 35

Chapter 3 How We Get Our Locus of Control 57

Part 2 When Locus of Control is Important in Our Lives 81

Introduction to Part 2: Remembering July 7 83

Chapter 4 Locus of Control in Action: Achievement in School 89

Chapter 5 Locus of Control in Action: Achievement in Business 105

Chapter 6 Locus of Control in Action: Achievement in Sports 123

Part 3 Coping with Relating, Psychological Disorders, and Physical Illness and Injury 137

Introduction to Part 3 139

Chapter 7 Coping with Relating 141

Chapter 8 Coping with Psychological Disorders 163

Chapter 9 Coping with Physical Illness and Injury 185

Part 4 Applying What We Know About Locus of Control 209

Introduction to Part 4 211

Chapter 10 Changing Locus of Control or Modifying the Situation 213

Notes 239

Index 261

Editorial Reviews

""In this masterpiece, Nowicki gets it right and delivers what he promises. In an incredibly engaging way, he convincingly conveys why locus of control is vital to people’s physical and mental well-being, relationships, and achievement in all aspects of life. Capitalizing on a massive and impressive body of research, this pioneering psychologist highlights the value of an internal, rather than external, locus of control, which gives people the strength, energy, and determination to successfully cope with life’s challenges and enjoy life’s opportunities. This fun book offers invaluable, creative, diverse, and appealing suggestions for modifying your own locus of control and improving the quality of your life. This is a must-read for anyone invested in having life choices, which hopefully is everyone.”   —Nadine J. Kaslow, PhD, ABPP, former president, American Psychological Association, and professor, Emory University School of Medicine “This is a treat to read. It will be of benefit to all of us, young and old, as it provides insights into how we can improve our lives, and especially how to enable our children and grandchildren, our pupils and workmates to overcome problems. I recommend it to all, but especially to parents and teachers.” —Jean Golding, Emeritus Professor of Paediatric Epidemiology, University of Bristol, United Kingdom “With trademark warmth and a profound understanding of the psychological forces that underscore human behavior, Stephen Nowicki translates a complex concept into an approachable method for understanding how our perceptions not only frame our options but also help determine our life circumstances. In this clear and engaging narrative, full of wonderful stories, locus of control emerges as a lens through which we can better understand and influence academic, business, and personal achievement. In the classroom I have watched Professor Nowicki endow his students with frameworks that drive their lives in unexpected and rewarding directions, and I am delighted that his readers will now benefit from the same transformational experiences.” —Andrea S. Hershatter, senior associate dean, Goizueta Business School, Emory University

From the Publisher