Concept
Albert Bandura introduced self-efficacy in 1977 and made it central to social cognitive theory. Unlike self-esteem, it is a task-specific judgement of capability, and it predicts choice, effort and persistence in learning and motivation research.
Efficacy versus outcome expectations
An outcome expectation is the belief that a behaviour leads to a result; an efficacy expectation is the belief that one can perform it. Knowing exercise is healthy does not help if you doubt you can keep it up.
Four sources
- Mastery experiences: personal success, the strongest source.
- Vicarious experience: seeing similar others succeed.
- Verbal persuasion: encouragement and feedback.
- Physiological and emotional states: how arousal is interpreted.
Dimensions and measurement
Level, strength and generality. Task-specific scales are preferred; the General Self-Efficacy Scale is also common.
Applications
Graded success, peer modelling and specific feedback in teaching; health programmes such as smoking cessation and the PRECEDE-PROCEED model; counselling and rehabilitation.
References
- Bandura, A. (1977). Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychological Review, 84(2), 191-215.
- Bandura, A. (1997). Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control. W. H. Freeman.
- Schwarzer, R., & Jerusalem, M. (1995). Generalized Self-Efficacy scale. In J. Weinman et al. (Eds.), Measures in Health Psychology (pp. 35-37). NFER-Nelson.
- Schunk, D. H., & Pajares, F. (2002). The development of academic self-efficacy. In A. Wigfield & J. Eccles (Eds.), Development of Achievement Motivation (pp. 15-31). Academic Press.