Locus of Control and Personality Traits:A Study on School Teachers

The objective of the present study was to find out the relationship of locus of control with personality in a group of school teachers of Kolkata, West Bengal. Rotter Locus of control scale and NEO five factor questionnaire developed by Costa and McCrae were used in the study. Correlation results yielded significant relation between different personality traits and locus of control. Findings revealed that neuroticism is positively and significantly correlated with locus of control whereas extraversion and conscientiousness are negatively and significantly correlated with locus of control. It indicates that the teachers who have high locus of control (external locus of control) i.e. who beliefs that outcomes are related to external forces beyond his or her control, are found to be more neurotic i.e. they are more anxious, impulsive and depressed or vice-versa. The present study also revealed that teachers with low locus of control (internal locus of control) are more extraverted (i.e. more warm, active and excitement seeking) and more on conscientiousness (competent, dutiful, achievement striving). Step wise regression analysis indicated that locus of control can be significantly predicted by extraversion and conscientiousness. Thus, from this study it can be concluded that teachers with internal locus of control are often characterized as having more positive personality traits like extraversion and conscientiousness and lesser negative traits like neuroticism.