WHO IS IN CHARGE HERE?

Which of the following two statements do you most agree with? Circle one.

A. What happens to me is my own doing.

B. Sometimes I feel I don’t have control over the direction my life is taking.

Percentage of Americans who chose A = 89%

Percentage of Chinese who chose A = 35%

What do you think accounts for the difference between American and Chinese percentages?

There could be many explanations, but one almost certainly is the fact that many Americans believe in the power of the individual to prevail against all obstacles, that there is nothing people cannot do or become if they want it badly enough and are willing to make the effort. This notion is best exemplified in the classic American expression: “Where there is a will there is a way.”

In Chinese culture, many people believe that while you can shape your life to some extent, certain external forces, things beyond your control, also play an important part. What happens to you in life is not entirely in your hands.

INTERNAL & EXTERNAL

Cultures differ greatly in their view of a person’s place in the external world, especially the degree to which human beings can control or manipulate forces outside themselves and thereby shape their own destiny. The two sides of this dimension, internal and external control, are described below:

Internal —

The locus of control is largely internal, within the individual. There are very few givens in life, few circumstances that have to be accepted as they are, that cannot be changed. There are no limits on what I can do or become, so long as I set my mind to it and make the necessary effort. Life is what I do.

External —

The locus of control is largely external to the individual. Some aspects of life are predetermined, built into the nature of things. There are limits beyond which we cannot go and certain givens that cannot be changed and must be accepted. Life is in large part what happens to me.

In the following sets of statements, circle the statement that does not belong, either because it is characteristic of internal control and all the rest are external control, or vice versa.

1. Stoicism is the rule.

2. The laws of the universe can be discovered.

3. Progress is inevitable.

4. Every problem has a solution.

1 — is external; the others are internal because:

2—this is core of internal dogma

3—as people figure out more and more about the world

4—if the world is a mechanism, then it’s possible to know how it works; no problem should be unsolvable if you look hard enough

1. Optimism is the rule.

2. Some things are a matter of luck or chance.

3. Where there’s a will there’s a way.

4. People believe strongly in technology.

2—is external; the others are internal because:

1—internally controlled people believe humans are in control

3—it’s all up to you in the internally controlled world

4—mechanisms (technology) are a hallmark of internally controlled thinking

1. Unhappiness is your own fault.

2. Progress is not automatic.

3. The workings of the universe are ultimately unknowable.

4. Nature cannot be dominated.

1—is internal; the others are external because:

2—anything can happen in the external world

3—core of external dogma

4—externally controlled people don’t believe man can dominate

1. You make your own luck.

2. Some problems do not have solutions.

3. Where there’s a will there’s a will.

4. Unhappiness is a natural part of life.

1 — is internal; the others are external because:

2—not everything is knowable

3—you can’t necessarily make things happen

4—you can’t always be happy because that would mean you were in control

Поиск по сайту: