fei75766_ch17_534-568.indd 545  02/24/20 10:49 AM
Chapter 17    Bandura: Social Cognitive Theory545
achieve, andreflect potential accomplishments thatarenottoofarinthefuture. (We
discuss self-regulation more fullyinthesection titled Self-Regulation.)
Finally, people haveself-reflectiveness. They areexaminers oftheirownfunc-
tioning; theycanthink about andevaluate theirmotivations, values, andthemean -
ingsoftheirlifegoals, andtheycanthink about theadequacy oftheirownthinking. 
They canalsoevaluate theeffect thatother people’s actions haveonthem. People’s 
most crucial self-reflective mechanism isself-efficacy: thatis,theirbeliefs thattheyare
capable ofperforming actions thatwillproduce adesired effect.
Self-Efficacy
How people actinaparticular situation depends onthereciprocity ofbehavioral, 
environmental, andcognitive conditions, especially those cognitive factors that
relate totheir beliefs thattheycanorcannot execute thebehavior necessary to
produce desired outcomes inanyparticular situation. Bandura (1997) callsthese 
expectations self-efficacy. According toBandura (1994), “people’s beliefs intheir 
personal  efficacy influence what courses ofaction theychoose topursue, how
much effort theywillinvest inactivities, howlongtheywillpersevere inthefaceof
obstacles andfailure experiences, andtheir resiliency following setbacks” (p.65).
Although self-efficacy hasapowerful causal influence onpeople’s actions, itis
notthesoledeterminant. Rather, self-efficacy combines with environment, prior 
behavior, andother personal variables, especially outcome expectations, toproduce 
behavior.
Inthetriadic reciprocal causal model, which postulates thattheenvironment, 
behavior, andperson haveaninteractive influence ononeanother, self-efficacy refers 
totheP(person) factor. 
What Is Self-Efficacy?
Bandura (2001) defined self-efficacy as“people’s beliefs intheircapability toexercise 
some measure ofcontrol overtheirownfunctioning andoverenvironmental events” 
(p.10).Bandura contends that“efficacy beliefs arethefoundation ofhuman agency” 
(p.10).People whobelieve thattheycandosomething thathasthepotential toalter
environmental events aremore likely toactandmore likely tobesuccessful than
those people withlowself-efficacy.
Self-efficacy isnottheexpectation ofouraction’s outcomes. Bandura (1986, 
1997) distinguished between efficacy expectations andoutcome expectations. Efficacy 
refers topeople’s confidence thattheyhavetheability toperform certain behaviors, 
whereas anoutcome expectancy refers toone’s prediction ofthelikely  consequences 
ofthatbehavior. Outcome must notbeconfused withsuccessful accomplishment of
anact;itrefers totheconsequences ofbehavior, notthecompletion oftheactitself. 
Forexample, ajobapplicant mayhaveconfidence thatshewillperform wellduring 
ajobinterview, havetheability toanswer anypossible questions, remain relaxed and
controlled, andexhibit anappropriate leveloffriendly behavior. Therefore, shehas
highself-efficacy withregard totheemployment interview. However, despite these 
highefficacy expectations, shemayhavelowoutcome expectations. Alowoutcome Final PDF to printer