Study habits formed at a young age have significant repercussions on children’s academic performance well into their college education. In an experiment, children who were given reward prize tokens for “putting an effort” performed consistently better than children who were praised for “being smart”.
Locus of Control:
While children see intelligence as a genetic factor that they cannot control (i.e. external), they view effort as something they can control (internal). These perceived causes of outcomes are what psychologists refer to as the Locus of Control.
For instance, consider a student’s performance in an exam and the underlying cause for it. If a student believes in an external Locus of Control, she might feel that her bad performance was due to factors out of her control – such as not being smart enough. On the other hand, a student who internalises the Locus of Control would believe that her bad performance was due to insufficient preparation on her part.
Benefits of an internal Locus of Control:
Studies support the idea that developing an internal locus is beneficial to students. Here’s how:
- Taking control over studying:
Students with an internalised locus tend to actively engage in learning. They participate in class discussions, maintain class notes, and are more likely to be organised. Students with an external locus, on the other hand, tend to rely on the teaching style to make them interested in class. They may perform poorly if the teacher or subject fails to engage them.
- Making efforts towards acquiring new information:
People with an internal locus are proactive in gathering relevant information. They seek help from mentors and older students when they are in doubt. They develop a reliable network of peers with whom they exchange vital information.
- Better decision-making :
Students who internalise the control factors are aware that their actions can cause outcomes. Thus, they put more thought into decisions when compared to students who are fatalistic. The former students are more likely to evaluate themselves and take corrective measures to change unfavourable circumstances.
- Self-efficacy:
Any goal needs you to follow through a series of steps before you finally achieve it. For instance, solving a math problem requires knowing a mathematical concept and applying it judiciously to arrive at an answer. A student with high self-efficacy in math knows the concept and has confidence that they can apply it appropriately. Additionally, when faced with a new problem that they cannot solve, they recognise where they are lacking and improve themselves. Studies have shown that students with internal locus are also the ones with higher self-efficacy.
How to reinforce an internal Locus of Control:
- Link praises with the appropriate behaviour:
Praise a child when you see them internalise a Locus of Control. For instance, if you see a child acknowledging that they lost a game because they were not paying attention, appreciate their insight.
- Describe the praise-worthy behaviour:
Children understand their expectations better when you vividly describe the behaviour you would like to see in them. In the above example, explain why it was important for the child to evaluate herself. You can tell her that the ability to see where she went wrong will help her improve in the next attempt.
- Encouragement:
Encouragement is praise that’s linked with effort. Emphasise that a child’s effort helped them accomplish a part of the task and convince them to not give up.
- Use reward prize tokens to reinforce good behaviour:
Small mementos of appreciation – like badges, collectible tokens and coins are great ways to strengthen a child’s belief in their efforts. Studies have shown that people who received reward tokens in their childhood developed a growth-oriented mindset as adults.
An internal Locus of Control is important to help children feel in charge of their circumstances and can help them grow into resilient, happier adults. Use praises, encouragement, and rewards appropriately to inculcate an internalised control in young children and help them attain academic success.
