fei75766_ch17_534-568.indd 548  02/24/20 10:49 AM
Part VI    Learning-Cognitive Theories548
where inefficacy isconcerned. Watching aswimmer ofequal ability failtonegotiate 
achoppy riverwilllikely dissuade theobserver from attempting thesame task.The
effects ofthisvicarious experience mayevenlastalifetime. 
Social Persuasion  Self-efficacy canalsobeacquired orweakened through social per-
suasion (Bandura, 1997). Theeffects ofthissource arelimited, butunder proper 
conditions, persuasion from others canraiseorlower self-efficacy. Thefirstcondition 
isthataperson must believe thepersuader. Exhortations orcriticisms from acredible 
source havemore efficacious power thandothose from anoncredible person. Boost -
ingself-efficacy through social persuasion willbeeffective onlyiftheactivity oneis
being encouraged totryiswithin one’s repertoire ofbehavior. Noamount ofverbal 
persuasion canalteraperson’s efficacy judgment ontheability torun100meters in
lessthan8seconds.
Bandura (1986) hypothesizes thattheefficacious power ofsuggestion is
directly related totheperceived status andauthority ofthepersuader. Status and
authority, ofcourse, arenotidentical. Forexample, apsychotherapist’s suggestion 
tophobic patients thattheycanrideinacrowded elevator ismore likely toincrease 
self-efficacy thanwillencouragement from one’s spouse orchildren. Butifthatsame 
psychotherapist tellspatients thattheyhavetheability tochange afaulty lightswitch, 
these patients willprobably notenhance theirself-efficacy forthisactivity. Also, 
social persuasion ismost effective when combined withsuccessful performance. Per-
suasion mayconvince someone toattempt anactivity, andifperformance issuccess -
ful,boththeaccomplishment andthesubsequent verbal rewards willincrease future 
efficacy.
Physical and Emotional States  Thefinalsource ofefficacy ispeople’s physiologi -
calandemotional states (Bandura, 1997). Strong emotion ordinarily lowers per-
formance; when people experience intense fear,acute anxiety, orhighlevels of
stress, theyarelikely tohavelower efficacy expectancies. Anactor inaschool play
knows hislinesduring rehearsal butrealizes thatthefearhefeelsonopening night 
mayblock hisrecall. Incidentally, forsome situations, emotional arousal, ifnottoo
intense, isassociated withincreased performance, sothatmoderate anxiety feltby
thatactor onopening night mayraisehisefficacy expectancies. Most people, when 
notafraid, havetheability tosuccessfully handle poisonous snakes. They merely 
havetograsp thesnake firmly behind thehead; butformany people, thefearthat
accompanies snake handling isdebilitating andgreatly lowers theirperformance 
expectancy.
Psychotherapists havelongrecognized thatareduction inanxiety oran
increase inphysical relaxation canfacilitate performance. Arousal information is
related toseveral variables. First, ofcourse, isthelevelofarousal—ordinarily, the
higher thearousal, thelower theself-efficacy. Thesecond variable istheperceived 
realism ofthearousal. Ifoneknows thatthefearisrealistic, aswhen driving onan
icymountain road, personal efficacy mayberaised. However, when oneiscognizant 
oftheabsurdity ofthephobia—for example, fearoftheoutdoors—then theemotional 
arousal tends tolower efficacy. Finally, thenature ofthetaskisanadded variable. 
Emotional arousal mayfacilitate thesuccessful completion ofsimple tasks, butitis
likely tointerfere withperformance ofcomplex activities.Final PDF to printer