Much has been written on the self-perceived ability of individuals to change the nature of their lives (Rotter, 1990; Judge...

Much has been written on the self-perceived ability of individuals to change the nature of their lives (Rotter, 1990; Judge & Bono, 2001). While many psychologists interpret ideas such as "locus of control" and "self-efficacy" as individually variable personality characteristics, they may actually reflect worldviews of a nation, ethnic group, or geographic community. How might these worldviews affect the self-perceived ability of individuals to change the nature of their lives? How should these worldviews be addressed or compensated for in the scholarly research?