Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Personal control refers to the belief that individuals have the ability to influence and shape their own experiences and outcomes. It involves a sense of agency and autonomy in decision-making and actions.
This concept describes a state where an individual feels helpless and unable to change or improve their situation, often due to past experiences of repeated failure.