What Peter Gray has said about Locus of control
2 quotes · 1 episode · Sep 29, 2026
Peter Gray, American evolutionary psychologist and author of Free to Learn and Restoring Childhood, has been quoted on Locus of control 2 times in 1 episode of Passion Struck with John R. Miles, most recently on September 29, 2026. Each quote below is verbatim and links to the moment it was said.
In their words
Gray argues that agency is innate rather than learned but is suppressed by schooling and parenting.
“So agency doesn't have to be learned. Agency is innate, but we can suppress it. And we do suppress it”
Passion Struck with John R. Miles: Your Kids Don’t Need More Achievement. They Need More Freedom | Dr. Peter Gray - EP 826 (Sep 29, 2026) · Listen from 26:53
Gray reports that standardized questionnaires show young people's external locus of control has greatly increased since the 1960s.
“research on those scores over years has shown that external locus of control has greatly increased”
Passion Struck with John R. Miles: Your Kids Don’t Need More Achievement. They Need More Freedom | Dr. Peter Gray - EP 826 (Sep 29, 2026) · Listen from 27:42
Episodes
Your Kids Don’t Need More Achievement. They Need More Freedom | Dr. Peter Gray - EP 826Passion Struck with John R. Miles · Sep 29, 2026 · 1 h 17 min
Evolutionary psychologist Peter Gray tells John R. Miles why children need free play and independence, blaming school pressure rather than smartphones for the youth mental health crisis.
Others on Locus of control
- Shadé Zahrai · 2 quotes
Peter Gray on other topics
- Youth mental health crisis · 3 quotes
- Free play in childhood · 3 quotes
- Social media and adolescent mental health · 2 quotes
- Intensive parenting · 2 quotes
- Let Grow · 1 quote
- The Anxious Generation · 1 quote
- Unschooling · 1 quote
- Elite college admissions · 1 quote