Commitment, Control, and Challenge, also known as the 3 C’s, enable people to deal more effectively with stressful experiences and increase what they can achieve . In a sequence of studies a group of researchers studied Personality Hardiness. One of the studies focused on the 3 Cs specifically. The researchers found that individuals who applied the principles of the 3 Cs were able to turn their stressful circumstances from negative into positive and even “growth-inducing” experiences, promoting “vigorous mental health”.
So let’s take a closer look at the three constructs, fundamentally shaped by researcher and Harvard University psychology professor Salvadore R. Maddi in the context of stress hardiness and self-development:
1. Commitment
“If you are strong in commitment, you believe it is important to remain involved with the events and people around you, no matter how stressful things become. It seems like a waste of time
to withdraw into alienation and isolation.” (Maddi, 2006, Hardiness: The courage to grow from stresses, p. 160)
Here are some suggestions on how you can create commitment. Creating personal meaning as well as a supportive and productive environment helps you to view your commitment as worthwhile and warrant full attention and effort:
- Identify purpose/value: Why am I doing this? What is the reason for doing this?
- Find support: Who is affected and how can they support me in my effort?
- Create a productive environment: What are possible distractions or obstacles? How can I eliminate or minimize these distractions/obstacles?
By the way – the following book contains a simple and easy-to-apply Sample Contract Form that helps making commitments more tangible.
| The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook (New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook): Martha Davis, Elizabeth Robbins Eshelman, Matthew McKay, Patrick Fanning: Books |
2. Control
“If you are strong in control, you want to continue to have an influence on the outcomes going on around you, no matter how difficult this becomes. It seems like a mistake to let yourself slip into powerlessness and passivity.” (Maddi, 2006, Hardiness: The courage to grow from stresses, p. 160)
Julian Rotter, thought leader and developer of the concept of “Locus of Control” found that there were two different ways to perceive control called Internal and External Locus of Control.
- People with an Internal Locus of Control believe…
- I control my own destiny: I can make things happen
- My experiences are controlled by my own abilities and effort
- The more I work the more successful I will get
- People with an External Locus of Control believe…
- I have no control over my destiny: I have no influence in what will happen
- My experiences are controlled by fate, chance, or luck
- It doesn’t matter how much I work, my boss just doesn’t like me and won’t let me advance my career
So what is your perception of control? Take this simple and quick survey, developed by Rotter to find out about your own locus of control.
Many times we do not simply fit into one or the other category. While people have a typical tendency for one or the other belief much of our sense of control also depends on the situation. Creating awareness of our patterns in different situations helps reassessing where our attitude is useful and where it is not. The stronger the belief that we have no control over our circumstances, the more our achievements and our general well-being will suffer.
3. Challenge
“If you are strong in challenge, you see stresses as a normal part of living, and an opportunity
to learn, develop, and grow in wisdom. You do not believe that easy comfort and security is a birthright.”(Maddi, 2006, Hardiness: The courage to grow from stresses, p. 160)
In the Achievement Motivation Theory, David McClelland proposed that intrinsically motivated people have a strong need for achievement while others who are extrinsically motivated are not. In one of his studies, McClelland also found that while entrepreneurs for example score high on the need for achievement scale, they also assess the level of risk-taking carefully, picking tasks that are moderately challenging but also seem achievable.
Check out this website for more explanation on Intrinsic Motivation and to get some pointers on how to obtain such an achievement mindset.
As Maddi (2002) explained, the three C’s of Commitment, Control, and Challenge provide the foundation to turn stressful circumstances from potential disasters into growth opportunities. He suggests that having only one or two of them is not enough.
In order to achieve anything you want with more consistency and success make sure you focus on all three C’s!
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