locus

psychology

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June 30, 2026

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In psychology, "locus" refers to the perceived cause of a success or failure. It describes whether the cause is seen as internal to the person (like ability or effort) or external (like task difficulty or luck).1

For example, if someone succeeds at a task, they might attribute it to their own ability (internal locus) or to the task being easy (external locus). This attribution can influence their motivation and behavior in future situations.1

The term "locus" can also mean a place or center of importance. The plural form is "loci".23

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motivation
Attribution theory
…as falling along three dimensions: locus, stability, and controllability. Locus refers to the location, internal or external, of the perceived cause of a success or failure. Ability and effort, for example, are seen as internal dispositions of a person, while task difficulty and luck are situational factors external to the…
Read More
…as falling along three dimensions: locus, stability, and controllability. Locus refers to the location, internal or external, of the perceived cause of a success or failure. Ability and effort, for example, are seen as internal dispositions of a person, while task difficulty and luck are situational factors external to the…
Read More