Final answer:
People who have an external locus of control believe that external forces dictate the events of their lives, making them feel that their personal actions have little impact on outcomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
People who believe in external locus of control tend to go with the flow because they feel the events in their lives are uncontrollable. This belief system implies that outcomes in a person's life are determined by external forces such as luck, fate, or other people - rather than their own actions or efforts.
For instance, if Jane believes she received a bad grade because her professor doesn't like her, rather than her own lack of study, she exemplifies someone with an external locus of control.
When discussing self-regulation, which is also known as internal locus of control, this refers to the belief that individuals control their own outcomes and are responsible for their actions.
People with a strong internal locus of control typically believe their goals are within reach and view challenges as tasks to be mastered, as opposed to those with a low internal locus of control (or high external locus of control), who may avoid challenging tasks and focus on negative outcomes.
Conflicting beliefs about freedom and control are common. People often believe they are responsible for their own actions and have the capacity to make choices, while simultaneously holding beliefs in fate or destiny, which suggest a lack of control over what occurs in their lives.