Control Theory Flashcards, test questions and answers
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What is Control Theory?
Control Theory is a branch of behavioural psychology that deals with the concept of self-regulation. It suggests that individuals are able to regulate their own emotions, behaviours, and thoughts in order to achieve their desired goals. Control Theory was initially developed by psychologist Julian Rotter in 1954 as a way of understanding how individuals’ behaviour can be influenced by the environment. The theory has since been used in a variety of contexts, such as therapy, management, and education.The main idea behind Control Theory is that behaviour can be regulated through an individual’s internal locus of control or external locus of control. Internal locus of control refers to one’s belief that they are capable and responsible for controlling their own destiny or behaviour; whereas external locus of control refers to the belief that one’s fate is determined by factors outside one’s control, like luck or fate. Control Theory suggests that individuals who possess an internal locus of control will be better able to regulate their behaviour and achieve success than those who have an external locus of control.Control Theory also suggests that people have different levels or styles when it comes to self-control. These styles include behaviorism (focusing on behavior responses), cognitive behaviorism (focusing on cognitive processes), and social learning (focusing on modeling). In addition, this theory states that the way in which people perceive rewards and punishments can influence their level of self-control; for example, if someone perceives punishment as being more unpleasant than rewards then they may have lower levels of self-control compared to someone who perceives punishment less negatively than rewards do.Finally, Control Theory emphasizes the importance of positive reinforcement when it comes to regulating behaviour; specifically, it states that positive reinforcement should be given more frequently than negative reinforcement so as not only reinforce good behaviour but also discourage bad behaviour from occurring again in the future. This type of reinforcement involves rewarding desirable behaviours while punishing undesirable ones in order to encourage people towards achieving goals they set out for themselves – such as maintaining healthy habits or studying effectively for exams – rather than relying solely on extrinsic motivation like grades or awards from outside sources.