Final answer:
An individual's belief about internal versus external control is called Locus of control. It involves whether people attribute outcomes to their own actions or to external circumstances.
Step-by-step explanation:
An individual's generalized belief about internal (self) control versus external (situation or others) control is called Locus of control. This concept was proposed by Julian Rotter and refers to our beliefs about the power we have over our lives. People with an internal locus of control believe that their outcomes are the result of their own efforts, whereas people with an external locus of control believe that their outcomes are determined by forces outside of their control. For instance, a student who attributes a poor grade on an exam to a lack of studying has an internal locus of control, while one who blames a poor grade on an unfair teacher might have an external locus of control.