Children who have an extreme external locus of control who believe their outcomes are controlled by chance and external factors only will feel higher levels of helplessness and mistrust, therefore impeding on their overall functioning and self-worth. 

University of Illinois at Chicago

An external locus of control is the belief that outcomes are beyond one's personal control. Individuals with this perspective attribute life's results to external forces such as luck, fate, or the actions of other people, rather than to their own efforts.

External Locus of Control

Alexander, A. (2019). The influence of trauma, locus of control, and health-related quality of life on a child's self-worth (Order No. AAI10812939). Available from APA PsycInfo®. (2169373707; 2018-65234-129). https://proxy.cc.uic.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/influence-trauma-locus-control-health-related/docview/2169373707/se-2

The influence of trauma, locus of control, and health-related quality of life on a child's self-worth

Extreme External Locus of Control and Self-Worth 

Read the following scenario. Based on the student's statements, analyze their belief about what controls the outcomes in their life. Explain your reasoning using specific examples from the text.

Analyzing a Student's Perspective on an Exam

A student performs poorly on a difficult exam. When asked about it, the student says, "It's not my fault. The professor made the questions intentionally tricky, and I had bad luck with the topics that were covered." This student's explanation for their performance is most characteristic of which of the following beliefs?

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