Level of subjective control

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The level of subjective control (the level of internality) indicates how much a person feels able to control significant events in his life, to be their author, cause, and not a consequence of the actions of others or the influence of circumstances .

The author of the term is Julian Rotter. The level of subjective control of a person can be measured using the Rotter questionnaire. A high SSC is characteristic of an internal personality, while a low one is characteristic of an esternal one.

The Rotter questionnaire measures both general internality (the general level of subjective control) and its individual types, namely the level of subjective control:

• in the field of achievements,
• in the area of ​​failure
• in family relationships
• in the field of industrial relations,
• in the field of interpersonal relations,
• regarding health and disease.

Self-concept

A study of self-assessments of people with different types of subjective control showed that people with low USC characterize themselves as selfish, dependent, indecisive, unfair, fussy, hostile, insecure, insincere, dependent, irritable. People with high TSC consider themselves to be kind, independent, decisive, fair, capable, friendly, honest, self-reliant, unflappable. Thus, USC is associated with a person’s feeling of his strength, dignity, responsibility for what is happening, with self-respect, social maturity and independence of the individual.

Given that USC is a practical synonym for the term «Personal Responsibility», these data are also true for personal responsibility. The higher the personal responsibility, the higher the self-esteem.