Which term describes the belief that outcomes are controlled by personal characteristics rather than circumstances?

• A. External Locus of Control
• B. Latent Learning
• C. Organization
• D. Internal Locus of Control

Answer: (D)

This question tests the idea of locus of control, which is about who or what you believe controls the outcomes in your life. If you think outcomes come from your own characteristics—your abilities, effort, persistence, and choices—you have an internal locus of control. This view suggests that your actions can shape what happens to you, which often motivates people to work harder and take responsibility for results.

The description given—outcomes being controlled by personal characteristics rather than circumstances—maps directly to an internal locus of control. It contrasts with an external locus of control, where outcomes are attributed to luck, fate, or other external factors. Latent learning is a separate concept about knowledge acquired without immediate performance, and organization is not about beliefs regarding control over outcomes.