Self-Efficacy

Self-efficacy is confidence in one’s ability to succeed at a task and is a primary influence in motivating a person. This construct determines various aspects of an individual’s behavior toward a task, including the individual’s thoughts, motivations, and overall performance, especially when the individual faces a difficult task. Depending on an individual’s self-efficacy beliefs, the individual can endure the hardships brought forth by a task in order to attain satisfactory results or can cease any effort toward the completion of the task. Establishing a positive sense of self-efficacy can lead to positive life outcomes. This entry reviews the theories, sources, and correlates of self-efficacy.

Theoretical Views

There are different theoretical views to explain self-efficacy. Three of which are behavioral theory, social learning theory, and attribution theory. Behaviorists ...

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