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Subjective Locus of Control Questionnaire

Subjective Locus of Control Questionnaire Test

Learn in about 6 minutes whether you tend to credit outcomes to your own actions or to outside forces. With 32 items, it offers a fast, research-based snapshot to guide coaching, teaching, and support.

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Questions: 326 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

16,069 views

1,136 completions

934 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

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How the Scales are Structured

example score

6/10

Externality (E) Scale (ES)

Measures the extent to which a person attributes life events to external forces such as luck, circumstances, or other people rather than their own actions.

Low externality

Moderate externality

High externality

0 – 3: Low externality | 4 – 6: Moderate externality | 7 – 10: High externality

A score of 6 indicates moderate externality, suggesting a noticeable tendency to explain outcomes by circumstances or others while still allowing some role for personal influence.

example score

5/10

Internality (I) (I)

This scale measures the extent to which a person attributes life outcomes to their own effort and decisions rather than to external circumstances.

More external

Balanced

More internal

0 – 3: More external | 4 – 6: Balanced | 7 – 10: More internal

A score of 5 falls in the Balanced range, suggesting a mixed tendency to explain outcomes through both personal actions and external factors.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Students seeking self-insight

41%OF USERS

They want to understand whether they usually take responsibility for outcomes or attribute them to circumstances.

School and university psychologists

34%OF USERS

They use it to quickly assess students’ responsibility orientation and tailor support or counseling plans.

Education and youth researchers

25%OF USERS

They include it in studies to link locus of control with motivation, achievement, and engagement patterns.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
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Interpretation

You’ll receive a structured, clinically-grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation, without exaggerated language.

Statistical
Comparison

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Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

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Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

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Used in 52+ countries

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See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Externality Scale (E) (ES()

Average

5.4

Normal range

4.1 — 6.7

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Internality Scale (I) (IS()

Average

5.5

Normal range

3.7 — 7.3

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It measures perceived control over life events. Scores reflect whether outcomes are mainly attributed to personal actions or to external forces.

Who is this questionnaire intended for?

It is designed for use with students and other young people in educational or research settings. It can also support psychological screening related to responsibility and motivation.

How long does it take and how many items are included?

Completion typically takes about 6 minutes. The questionnaire includes 32 items.

How should responses be selected?

Choose the option that best matches the usual explanation for similar events. Respond to each item without spending too much time on any single question.

How are results interpreted?

Higher internal orientation indicates a stronger tendency to link outcomes to personal decisions and effort. Higher external orientation indicates a stronger tendency to link outcomes to chance, circumstances, or other people.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Subjective Locus of Control Questionnaire Test - Symptoms and Signs

locus of control

This measure is used to assess perceived control over life events and the extent to which individuals attribute outcomes to personal actions versus external forces. The Subjective Locus of Control Questionnaire is typically administered as a brief self-report measure in clinical, counseling, and research settings.

The instrument contains 32 items and usually requires about 6 minutes to complete. Items ask respondents to endorse statements reflecting differing explanations for everyday successes and difficulties; responses are summed to characterize relative internal versus external control orientation, which may inform case conceptualization and treatment planning. A commonly cited lineage for locus of control measurement includes work by Julian B. Rotter and Hanna Levenson.

Results from the Subjective Locus of Control Questionnaire should be interpreted within the broader assessment context, considering relevant demographic, cultural, and situational factors, and integrated with collateral information when available.

Author: Hanna Levenson, Julian B. Rotter

Literature: Rotter, J. B. Generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement. Psychological Monographs: General and Applied. 1966.

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