Locus of Control:

Locus of control is a term used in personality psychology describing our belief system — whether we feel we have power to control our lives. Psychologist Julian Rotter (1916–2014) developed the concept in the 1950s in the belief our locus of control guides our attitudes and behaviors. Also see Self-Efficacy

• Internal locus of control is believing we control the outcomes of our actions through our  own efforts, like a student who believes they can improve their grades by studying hard. We have a strong sense of agency to take effective action, are optimistic, and are responsible for our actions, whether successes or failures.
• External locus of control is believing external forces, like fate, luck, or other people, have more influence over our life — with little say over what happens — like a student who believes their grades are solely determined by the teacher’s unfair grading. We have less agency to influence outcomes, are more pessimistic, and blame others for our problems.