Autoeficacia

Self-Efficacy

Albert Bandura Stanford University

Bandura, A. (1994). Self-efficacy. In V. S. Ramachaudran (Ed.), Encyclopedia of human behavior (Vol. 4, pp. 71-81). New York: Academic Press. (Reprinted in H. Friedman [Ed.], Encyclopedia of mental health. San Diego: Academic Press, 1998).

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I. II. III. IV.

Sources of Self-Efficacy Beliefs Efficacy-Mediated Processes AdaptiveBenefits of Optimistic Self-Beliefs of Efficacy Development and E xercise of Self-Efficacy Over the Lifespan Glossary

Affective Processes: Processes regulating emotional states and elicitation of emotional reactions. Cognitive Processes: Thinking processes involved in the acquisition, organization and use of information. Motivation: Activation to action. Level of motivation is reflected in choice ofcourses of action, and in the intensity and persistence of effort. Perceived Self-Efficacy: People's beliefs about their capabilities to produce effects. Self-Regulation: Exercise of influence over one's own motivation, thought processes, emotional states and patterns of behavior.

Perceived self-efficacy is defined as people's beliefs about their capabilities to produce designated levels ofperformance that exercise influence over events that affect their lives. Selfefficacy beliefs determine how people feel, think, motivate themselves and behave. Such beliefs produce these diverse effects through four major processes. They include cognitive, motivational, affective and selection processes. A strong sense of efficacy enhances human accomplishment and personal well-being in many ways.People with high assurance in their capabilities approach difficult tasks as challenges to be mastered rather than as threats to be avoided. Such an efficacious outlook fosters intrinsic interest and deep engrossment in activities. They set themselves challenging goals and maintain strong commitment to them. They heighten and sustain their efforts in the face of failure. They quickly recover theirsense of efficacy after failures or setbacks. They attribute failure to insufficient effort or deficient knowledge and skills which are acquirable. They approach threatening situations with assurance that they can exercise control over them. Such an efficacious outlook produces personal accomplishments, reduces stress and lowers vulnerability to depression. In contrast, people who doubt theircapabilities shy away from difficult tasks which they view as personal threats. They have low aspirations and weak commitment to the goals they choose to pursue. When faced with difficult tasks, they dwell on their personal deficiencies, on the obstacles they will encounter, and all kinds of adverse outcomes rather than concentrate on how to perform successfully. They slacken their efforts and give upquickly in the face of difficulties. They are slow to recover their sense of efficacy following failure or setbacks. Because they view insufficient performance as deficient aptitude it does not require much failure for them to lose faith in their capabilities. They fall easy victim to stress and depression. I. Sources of Self-Efficacy People's beliefs about their efficacy can be developed by fourmain sources of influence. The most effective way of creating a strong sense of efficacy is through mastery experiences. Successes build a robust belief in one's personal efficacy. Failures undermine it, especially if failures occur before a sense of efficacy is firmly established. If people experience only easy successes they come to expect quick results and are easily discouraged by failure. Aresilient sense of efficacy requires experience in overcoming obstacles 2

through perseverant effort. Some setbacks and difficulties in human pursuits serve a useful purpose in teaching that success usually requires sustained effort. After people become convinced they have what it takes to succeed, they persevere in the face of adversity and quickly rebound from setbacks. By sticking it out...