Internal and External Locus of Control and the Impact on Stress Part 2/3
I have always had a tough time in school. Not because I find the work to be overtly difficult, more simply because I am one of the world’s finest procrastinators. If it can be procrastinated then it more than likely will be. Right up to the absolute last minute.
If an exam is coming up, I know that I need to start studying at least two week before it begins. I understand that it needs to be done. But it won’t start to even phase my stress levels until at least two days before the exam. Two days before the exam I will begin stressing about all that I have to do, and all the material that I have to cover. I will be so worried about the amount of work that I have to accomplish that I will again put it off by doing trivial items or tasks that do not actually matter in the long term assessment of the class.
After actually taking the exam that I was more then likely ill prepared for, I forget that this is actually my fault. I will at the time decide that the reason that I was not able to retain the information is someone else fault. It was my teachers fault, or the course was set up incorrectly, or at the very least somebody or something was in my way of succeeding.
This would indicate that I have a high external locus of control in regards to the fact that I take rarely take ownership of my mistake or shortcomings. I understand that after my course is over that it is in fact my fault, but during or right after I get stressed out that it did not go in my favour. Then I stay stressed out up until my mark is actually returned to me.
