7.3 Self-Efficacy and Human Agency
3 min read•august 7, 2024
Self-efficacy and human agency are key concepts in cognitive learning theories. They focus on how our beliefs about our abilities shape our actions and outcomes. These ideas build on Bandura's social learning theory, expanding our understanding of and behavior.
Self-efficacy is about believing in your ability to succeed. It's influenced by past successes, role models, encouragement, and emotional states. Human agency is our power to control our lives, individually or collectively. Both concepts highlight how our thoughts impact our actions.
Self-Efficacy
Developing Self-Efficacy
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- Self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments
- Mastery experiences provide the most authentic evidence of one's ability to succeed and build a robust belief in one's personal efficacy
- Successes build a strong belief in one's personal efficacy while failures undermine it, especially if failures occur before a sense of efficacy is firmly established
- provided by social models also influence self-efficacy
- Seeing people similar to oneself succeed by sustained effort raises observers' beliefs that they too possess the capabilities to master comparable activities (role models)
- Verbal persuasion serves as a further means of strengthening people's beliefs that they possess the capabilities to achieve what they seek
- People who are persuaded verbally that they possess the capabilities to master given activities are likely to mobilize greater effort and sustain it
Factors Influencing Self-Efficacy
- Emotional and physiological states influence how people judge their capablities
- Positive mood enhances perceived self-efficacy while despondent mood diminishes it
- Physiological indicators of efficacy play an influential role in health functioning and in athletic and other physical activities (increased heart rate before a competition)
- Self-efficacy beliefs influence how people feel, think, motivate themselves and behave
- Cognitive processes: Self-efficacy beliefs affect thought patterns that can enhance or undermine performance (visualization of success scenarios)
- Motivational processes: Self-efficacy beliefs play a central role in the of motivation (setting challenging goals and maintaining strong commitment to them)
- Affective processes: People's beliefs in their coping capabilities affect how much stress and depression they experience in threatening or difficult situations (coping with job loss)
Human Agency
Types of Human Agency
- Human agency refers to the capacity to exercise control over the nature and quality of one's life
- is exercised individually when people influence their own functioning and environmental events
- Enables individuals to play a part in their self-development, adaptation, and self-renewal with changing times (choosing a career path)
- Proxy agency relies on others to act on one's behest to secure desired outcomes
- People do not have direct control over social conditions and institutional practices that affect their lives (relying on political representatives)
- is exercised through socially coordinative and interdependent effort
- People pool their knowledge, skills, and resources and act in concert to shape their future (team sports, social movements)
Factors Influencing Human Agency
- People's beliefs in their collective efficacy influence the type of futures they seek to achieve, how well they use their resources, how much effort they put into their group endeavor, and their staying power when collective efforts fail to produce quick results or meet forcible opposition
- A group's attainments are the product not only of shared knowledge and skills of its different members, but also of the interactive, coordinative, and synergistic dynamics of their transactions (workplace collaboration)
- In many activities, people have to work together to secure what they cannot accomplish on their own
- People's shared beliefs in their collective efficacy influence the type of futures they seek to achieve, how well they use their resources, how much effort they put into their group endeavor, and their staying power when collective efforts fail to produce quick results (community development projects)
Key Terms to Review (18)
Academic self-efficacy: Academic self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their capability to perform specific academic tasks successfully. This concept is critical because it influences how students approach challenges, set goals, and ultimately persist in their studies. When students have a strong sense of academic self-efficacy, they are more likely to take on difficult tasks and achieve higher academic performance, as they feel confident in their abilities to succeed.
Albert Bandura: Albert Bandura is a renowned psychologist best known for his contributions to social learning theory and the concept of self-efficacy. His work emphasizes the importance of observational learning, imitation, and modeling in human behavior, showcasing how individuals can learn by watching others. Bandura's theories highlight that people are not just passive learners but active agents who can influence their own behaviors and environments.
Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory: Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory emphasizes the importance of observational learning, imitation, and modeling in human behavior. It suggests that individuals learn not only through direct experiences but also by watching others, which highlights the role of social influences and cognitive processes in learning. Central to this theory are concepts like self-efficacy and human agency, which are crucial in understanding how beliefs about personal capabilities can affect motivation and behavior.
Behavioral change: Behavioral change refers to the process of altering specific behaviors, habits, or actions in response to new information, experiences, or environments. It involves an individual's capacity to modify their actions and can be influenced by various factors such as self-efficacy, motivation, and personal agency. Understanding behavioral change is crucial in promoting positive outcomes and personal growth, as it highlights how individuals can take charge of their actions and make meaningful adjustments to their lives.
Collective Agency: Collective agency refers to the capacity of a group to act together and make decisions that shape their collective outcomes and experiences. This concept emphasizes the power of individuals collaborating toward a common goal, influenced by shared beliefs, values, and motivations that enhance their sense of efficacy and impact.
Confidence assessments: Confidence assessments refer to the evaluation of an individual's belief in their ability to perform a specific task or achieve a certain goal. This concept is closely linked to self-efficacy, which is the personal judgment of one's capabilities in various situations. Confidence assessments help in understanding how people perceive their own competence and influence their motivation, persistence, and performance in various activities.
Motivation: Motivation is the internal process that initiates, guides, and maintains goal-oriented behaviors. It serves as the driving force behind why individuals engage in specific actions and can significantly influence learning outcomes, self-efficacy, and agency in various contexts.
Performance Outcomes: Performance outcomes refer to the measurable results or achievements that stem from an individual’s actions or behaviors in a specific context. These outcomes are critical in evaluating how effective a person is at executing a task or reaching a goal, often influenced by their self-efficacy and sense of agency.
Personal agency: Personal agency refers to the capacity of individuals to act independently and make their own choices. It emphasizes the ability to influence one's own life, behaviors, and decisions, often linked to concepts like self-efficacy, motivation, and responsibility for one's actions.
Richard Ryan: Richard Ryan is a prominent psychologist known for his work on self-determination theory, which emphasizes the role of intrinsic motivation in human behavior and development. His research highlights the importance of psychological needs, such as autonomy, competence, and relatedness, in fostering motivation and well-being, connecting deeply with concepts of self-efficacy and human agency.
Self-Efficacy in Goal Setting: Self-efficacy in goal setting refers to an individual's belief in their ability to succeed in specific tasks and achieve desired outcomes. This belief influences not only the goals that people set for themselves but also the level of effort and persistence they will apply toward those goals. A strong sense of self-efficacy leads to higher motivation, better resilience in the face of challenges, and ultimately, greater success in reaching set objectives.
Self-efficacy scale: A self-efficacy scale is a measurement tool used to assess an individual's belief in their own ability to successfully perform tasks or achieve goals. It reflects personal confidence and influences motivation, effort, and persistence when facing challenges, playing a crucial role in the concept of human agency.
Self-esteem: Self-esteem is an individual's subjective evaluation of their own worth, encompassing beliefs about oneself, such as confidence and competence. It plays a critical role in shaping how a person thinks, feels, and interacts with the world, influencing motivation and personal agency in pursuing goals.
Self-reflection: Self-reflection is the process of introspectively examining one's thoughts, feelings, actions, and beliefs to gain deeper insights into oneself. This practice allows individuals to analyze their experiences, recognize patterns in their behavior, and understand their motivations, ultimately fostering personal growth and self-improvement. Engaging in self-reflection promotes self-efficacy by empowering individuals to take charge of their learning and decisions.
Self-regulation: Self-regulation refers to the ability of individuals to manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in a way that is goal-directed and aligned with their values. This concept emphasizes the process by which people control their responses to various situations, setting goals and adjusting their actions based on feedback. It is a crucial component in understanding how people can take charge of their own learning and development, shaping their behaviors and outcomes through personal agency.
Social persuasion: Social persuasion is the process through which individuals are influenced by others' attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors, often leading to changes in one's own perceptions and actions. This concept is closely linked to the idea of self-efficacy, where the belief in one’s own abilities can be shaped by social interactions and feedback. Through social persuasion, individuals can be motivated to adopt new behaviors or goals, enhancing their sense of agency and belief in their capacity to achieve desired outcomes.
Theory of planned behavior: The theory of planned behavior is a psychological model that explains how individual behavior is influenced by intentions, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. It suggests that the stronger a person's intention to engage in a behavior, the more likely they are to actually perform it, emphasizing the role of self-efficacy and human agency in decision-making processes.
Vicarious Experiences: Vicarious experiences refer to the learning and emotional responses that occur when individuals observe others performing tasks or experiencing events, leading to changes in their own beliefs and behaviors. This concept highlights how witnessing the successes or failures of others can influence one's self-efficacy, shaping their motivation and perceived ability to take action in similar situations. By observing others, individuals can gain insights and confidence without having to directly engage in the activities themselves.