Locus of Control and Agency (8A) - MCAT Psychological and Social Foundations
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Identify the locus of control: I got the job because I prepared well.
Identify the locus of control: I got the job because I prepared well.
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Internal locus of control. Credits personal effort for positive outcome.
Internal locus of control. Credits personal effort for positive outcome.
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Identify the locus of control: I failed because I did not study effectively.
Identify the locus of control: I failed because I did not study effectively.
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Internal locus of control. Takes personal responsibility for the failure.
Internal locus of control. Takes personal responsibility for the failure.
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What is agency in psychology?
What is agency in psychology?
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Capacity to act intentionally and influence ones life circumstances. Reflects one's power to make choices and create change.
Capacity to act intentionally and influence ones life circumstances. Reflects one's power to make choices and create change.
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Which locus of control attributes outcomes to chance, fate, or powerful others?
Which locus of control attributes outcomes to chance, fate, or powerful others?
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External locus of control. Externals blame circumstances beyond their control.
External locus of control. Externals blame circumstances beyond their control.
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Which locus of control attributes outcomes to effort and personal decisions?
Which locus of control attributes outcomes to effort and personal decisions?
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Internal locus of control. Internals link success/failure to personal actions.
Internal locus of control. Internals link success/failure to personal actions.
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What is an external locus of control?
What is an external locus of control?
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Belief that outcomes are primarily determined by outside forces (luck, fate). Externals see life events as beyond personal control.
Belief that outcomes are primarily determined by outside forces (luck, fate). Externals see life events as beyond personal control.
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What is an internal locus of control?
What is an internal locus of control?
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Belief that outcomes are primarily determined by ones own actions. Internals believe they control their destiny through choices.
Belief that outcomes are primarily determined by ones own actions. Internals believe they control their destiny through choices.
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Which attribution best reflects external locus of control for failure: effort, strategy, luck, or persistence?
Which attribution best reflects external locus of control for failure: effort, strategy, luck, or persistence?
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Luck. Luck is an external, uncontrollable factor.
Luck. Luck is an external, uncontrollable factor.
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What is an attribution in attribution theory?
What is an attribution in attribution theory?
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An explanation a person assigns to the cause of a behavior or outcome. How people explain causes of events and behaviors.
An explanation a person assigns to the cause of a behavior or outcome. How people explain causes of events and behaviors.
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What is self-efficacy in Bandura’s theory?
What is self-efficacy in Bandura’s theory?
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Belief in one’s ability to perform behaviors needed to reach goals. Confidence in executing specific actions, not controlling outcomes.
Belief in one’s ability to perform behaviors needed to reach goals. Confidence in executing specific actions, not controlling outcomes.
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Which locus of control is most associated with learned helplessness after failures?
Which locus of control is most associated with learned helplessness after failures?
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External locus of control. Helplessness develops when outcomes seem beyond personal control.
External locus of control. Helplessness develops when outcomes seem beyond personal control.
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Which statement best reflects high agency: “My choices matter,” or “Nothing I do changes outcomes”?
Which statement best reflects high agency: “My choices matter,” or “Nothing I do changes outcomes”?
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“My choices matter.”. Expresses belief in personal power to influence outcomes.
“My choices matter.”. Expresses belief in personal power to influence outcomes.
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Identify the mismatch: “I control outcomes” (locus) versus “I can do the task” (which construct)?
Identify the mismatch: “I control outcomes” (locus) versus “I can do the task” (which construct)?
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Self-efficacy. Self-efficacy focuses on capability, not outcome control.
Self-efficacy. Self-efficacy focuses on capability, not outcome control.
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What is personal agency?
What is personal agency?
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Perceived capacity to initiate actions and influence one’s life outcomes. Reflects belief in one's power to act and create change.
Perceived capacity to initiate actions and influence one’s life outcomes. Reflects belief in one's power to act and create change.
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Which locus of control is most consistent with attributing outcomes to chance or fate?
Which locus of control is most consistent with attributing outcomes to chance or fate?
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External locus of control. External locus attributes outcomes to forces beyond personal control.
External locus of control. External locus attributes outcomes to forces beyond personal control.
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Which locus of control is most consistent with high personal responsibility for outcomes?
Which locus of control is most consistent with high personal responsibility for outcomes?
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Internal locus of control. Internal locus means believing you control your own outcomes.
Internal locus of control. Internal locus means believing you control your own outcomes.
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What is locus of control in personality and social psychology?
What is locus of control in personality and social psychology?
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Belief about whether outcomes are controlled internally or externally. Distinguishes whether control lies within oneself or outside forces.
Belief about whether outcomes are controlled internally or externally. Distinguishes whether control lies within oneself or outside forces.
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Identify the locus of control: “I did well because I studied effectively.”
Identify the locus of control: “I did well because I studied effectively.”
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Internal locus of control. Credits personal effort (studying) for the positive outcome.
Internal locus of control. Credits personal effort (studying) for the positive outcome.
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Which concept best fits: “I can learn this skill if I practice,” even after past failures?
Which concept best fits: “I can learn this skill if I practice,” even after past failures?
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High self-efficacy. Shows confidence in ability to perform despite past setbacks.
High self-efficacy. Shows confidence in ability to perform despite past setbacks.
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Identify the concept: After uncontrollable shocks, an animal stops trying to escape.
Identify the concept: After uncontrollable shocks, an animal stops trying to escape.
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Learned helplessness. Classic example of giving up when outcomes seem uncontrollable.
Learned helplessness. Classic example of giving up when outcomes seem uncontrollable.
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Which attribution best reflects internal locus of control for success: ability, luck, task difficulty, or chance?
Which attribution best reflects internal locus of control for success: ability, luck, task difficulty, or chance?
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Ability. Ability is an internal, stable personal characteristic.
Ability. Ability is an internal, stable personal characteristic.
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Which construct is being tested: confidence in ability to perform a specific task successfully?
Which construct is being tested: confidence in ability to perform a specific task successfully?
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Self-efficacy. Task-specific confidence is the hallmark of this construct.
Self-efficacy. Task-specific confidence is the hallmark of this construct.
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What is personal agency in psychology?
What is personal agency in psychology?
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Capacity to intentionally influence one’s thoughts, behavior, and environment. Core concept in social cognitive theory of self-determination.
Capacity to intentionally influence one’s thoughts, behavior, and environment. Core concept in social cognitive theory of self-determination.
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Which locus of control is most consistent with the statement: "The test was unfair, so I failed"?
Which locus of control is most consistent with the statement: "The test was unfair, so I failed"?
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External locus of control. Blames external factors rather than personal responsibility.
External locus of control. Blames external factors rather than personal responsibility.
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Which locus of control is most consistent with the statement: "My effort determines my grades"?
Which locus of control is most consistent with the statement: "My effort determines my grades"?
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Internal locus of control. Effort is a personal action under one's control.
Internal locus of control. Effort is a personal action under one's control.
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Identify the attribution: "I failed because the room was too noisy." (locus and controllability)
Identify the attribution: "I failed because the room was too noisy." (locus and controllability)
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External and typically uncontrollable. Environmental factors are outside personal control.
External and typically uncontrollable. Environmental factors are outside personal control.
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Which bias is shown: taking credit for an A but blaming a bad grade on the instructor?
Which bias is shown: taking credit for an A but blaming a bad grade on the instructor?
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Self-serving bias. Classic pattern of internal/external attribution for success/failure.
Self-serving bias. Classic pattern of internal/external attribution for success/failure.
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What is the actor–observer bias?
What is the actor–observer bias?
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Explaining own actions situationally but others’ actions dispositionally. Different perspectives lead to different causal explanations.
Explaining own actions situationally but others’ actions dispositionally. Different perspectives lead to different causal explanations.
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Which bias is shown: "I was late due to traffic, but she is late because she is careless"?
Which bias is shown: "I was late due to traffic, but she is late because she is careless"?
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Actor–observer bias. Shows asymmetry in how we judge self versus others.
Actor–observer bias. Shows asymmetry in how we judge self versus others.
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In attribution theory, what does the controllability dimension describe?
In attribution theory, what does the controllability dimension describe?
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Whether a cause is under personal control versus uncontrollable. Influences emotional responses like guilt or anger.
Whether a cause is under personal control versus uncontrollable. Influences emotional responses like guilt or anger.
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