Self-Efficacy Theory of Albert Bandura

Have you ever seen two people wearing the same outfit yet one is glowing and the other feels average or underwhelming? Or maybe two students who put in the same effort, yet one topped and the other barely passed or failed. These differences plagued psychologists’s minds for years as many sought to explain why. A huge piece of this puzzle was put forward by Albert Bandura.

He tried to explain why some people are more inclined towards trying new things with confidence, while others shy away from it. Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy continues to serve as a foundation for several theories on well-being, motivation, and learning. Since the release of the theory of self-efficacy, countless psychologists have used it to explain human behaviour and personal achievements. 

Who Is Albert Bandura? 

Albert Bandura (1925-2021) also considered one of the most influential psychologists of the twentieth century, was an influential cognitive social psychologist. Born in a small town in Canada, he was taught in a small school with only two high school teachers available. According to Bandura, due to the limited educational resources, students had to take charge of their education.

His schooling experience made him realize that self-directedness had a more long-lasting influence than perishable textbooks. Like many popular psychologists, Bandura was not originally a psychology student. Initially majoring in biological science, he accidentally developed an interest in psychology while spending his time in the library.

After completing his PhD, Bandura was offered a position at Stanford University, where he worked until retirement. His works are considered a part of the cognitive revolution in psychology that started in 1961. Bandura’s most influential work, called The Bobo Doll Experiment, continues to be a staple in psychology books across the globe. Throughout his life, he published several groundbreaking works, including social learning and self-efficacy, along with a widely used aggression theory. 

What Is Self-Efficacy? 

Bandura believed that self-efficacy lies at the core of human functioning (Bandura, 1997). He suggested that just possessing the requisite knowledge and skills is not enough to perform an act, instead, the individual also requires a conviction that they can perform a task well (Artino, 2012). According to Bandura, self-efficacy is defined as an individual’s judgement of their capabilities to organize and carry out the required actions to complete a task (Bandura, 1986). In simpler terms, it refers to a person’s belief in their ability to carry out a task. Bandura suggested that the

most useful efficiency judgements are those that slightly overestimate their abilities. Unlike self-concept and perception, which are more general measures, self-efficacy is specifically tied to a goal, making it significantly different from other concepts of expectancy. Bandura believed that self-efficacy predicted an individual’s choice of activities, motivation, and persistence.

Individuals with high self-efficacy are more inclined to tackle new tasks compared to those with low self-efficacy who tend to avoid participation (Bandura, 1997). He suggested that people with low self-efficacy do not believe that they are capable of accomplishing a task, making them avoid taking it on. Whereas people with high efficacy about a particular task believe in their competence and are more likely to participate.

He also hypothesized that people with high efficacy are more likely to put in effort and persist when faced with a setback, as they believe in their potential. This tendency of persistence plays an important role in success, as most tasks require pushing through challenges. An employee who believes in his capabilities is more likely to apply and get selected for a job as compared to those with low efficacy, despite having similar skill sets. 

Sources of Self-Efficacy: 

Humans are not born with a pre-determined self-efficacy while physiological factors affect a person’s efficacy, it’s not the only determiner. Bandura suggested four primary sources of self-efficacy, which include: 

1. Enactive Mastery:

According to Bandura, enactive mastery or actual performance is considered the most influential source of efficacy. He pointed out that past experiences of success play a huge role in developing efficacy as they provide an individual with a tried and tested plan to follow. However, past failures can also contribute to the development of low self-efficacy, depending on the individual’s strength of existing beliefs and the timing of failure. For example, failures during early childhood would weaken efficacy more than failure during late adolescence. 

2. Vicarious Experiences:

Bandura explained that individuals also learn through modelling or by observing people’s successes and failures. He suggested that by observing successful people, individuals may develop positive beliefs about effort and persistence, inciting them to do the same. While vicarious experiences do influence a person’s efficacy, they do not serve as a measure of one’s capabilities, making it weaker and more susceptible to change. 

3. Social Persuasion:

Another factor that contributes to the development of efficacy is verbal persuasion through receiving words of encouragement and support from others, also known as social persuasion. This kind of positive feedback is often used in educational settings to help students develop confidence in their ability to overcome challenges. However, these words of encouragement must be realistic and not overly optimistic, as unrealistically positive comments can be ineffective and even harmful if they lead to a failure that undermines the individual’s confidence. 

4. Emotional and Physiological Feedback:

An individual’s emotional responses and reactions to various situations can significantly influence self-efficacy. Factors such as mood, emotions, physical sensations, and stress levels can affect how confident a person feels about their abilities in a given situation. For instance, someone who experiences intense anxiety before public speaking may develop low self-efficacy when faced with similar situations. However, it is not just the intensity of these reactions that plays a role in the development of efficacy but also how they are perceived and understood. 

To summarize, Albert Bandura’s self-efficacy theory emphasizes the importance of individuals’ beliefs in their capabilities to succeed in various tasks and situations. This theory continues to guide studies on personal development, learning, motivation, and overall well-being. By understanding and enhancing one’s self-efficacy, individuals can increase their resilience, achieve their goals, and navigate challenges with confidence. Bandura’s theory continues to be influential in psychology, education, and various fields, shaping our understanding of human behaviour and the factors that contribute to success. 

FAQs

1. What is self-efficacy according to Bandura? 

Bandura defined self-efficacy as a person’s belief in his or her capacity to perform and succeed in a task. Self-efficacy reflects a person’s judgements about their skills and resources to accomplish a target. 

2. What is an example of self-efficacy? 

Let’s take the example of two students with similar study schedules and cognitive abilities. The student who has high efficacy and believes that he has the necessary skills to give a good presentation, would perform better than the student who undermines his capabilities and avoids challenges. 

3. What are the limitations of self-efficacy theory? 

Despite being one of the most influential theories it faced its equal shares of criticism. One limitation is that it focuses heavily on individual beliefs and neglects fully considering external factors influencing behaviour. Additionally, the theory oversimplifies the complex nature of human behaviour by primarily focusing on one’s belief in their abilities. Lastly, the theory’s emphasis on self-beliefs does not fully address the impact of structural inequalities or systemic barriers on an individual’s actions. 

4. How to improve self-efficacy? 

Fortunately, through consistent efforts, one can improve their efficacy. Self-efficacy can be improved through positive self-talk, learning from failures, seeking constructive feedback and visualising success. Breaking tasks into smaller steps and setting achievable goals can also help improve efficacy.