Self-Efficacy Theory

Self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in his or her capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments (Bandura, 1977, 1986, 1997). Self-efficacy reflects confidence in the ability to exert control over one's own motivation, behavior, and social environment. These cognitive self-evaluations influence all manner of human experience, including the goals for which people strive, the amount of energy expended toward goal achievement, and likelihood of attaining particular levels of behavioral performance. Unlike traditional psychological constructs, self-efficacy beliefs are hypothesized to vary depending on the domain of functioning and circumstances surrounding the occurrence of behavior. Self-Efficacy Theory (SET) has had considerable influence on research, education, and clinical practice. In the field of health psychology, for example, the construct of self-efficacy has been applied to behaviors as diverse as:

• Self-management of chronic disease
• Smoking cessation
• Alcohol use
• Eating
• Pain control
• Exercise

See Also

Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)
Integrated Behavioral Model
Theory of Planned Behavior
Theory E and Theory O
Theory X Theory Y
Theory Z
Theory of Bisociation
Theory of Constraints
Theory of Inventive Problem Solving
Theory of Mechanistic and Organic Systems
Theory of Needs
Theory of Reasoned Action
Complexity Theory
Balance Theory
Expectancy Theory
Congruity Theory
Game Theory
Organizational Theory
Bureaucratic Theory
Gestalt theory
Graves Value Theory
Microeconomic Theory
Systems Theory
Stakeholder Theory
Stewardship Theory
Contingency Theory
Shareholder Theory
Agency Theory
Information Theory
Dempster Shafer (D-S) Theory
Resource Scarcity Theory
General Systems Theory (GST)
Goal Setting Theory
Upper Echelons Theory
Probability Theory
Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT)
Lewin/Schein's Change Theory
Diffusion of Innovation Theory
Decision Theory
Cultivation Theory
Persuasion Theory
Trickle-Down Theory
Catastrophe Theory
Plausibility Theory
Chaos Theory
Attribution Theory
ERG Theory
Limited Effects Theory
Scientific Management Theory
Social Judgment Theory
Black Swan Theory
Resource Dependence Theory
Dynamical Systems Theory