ALBERT  BANDURA

Self-Efficacy

Among the mechanisms of human agency, none is more central or pervasive than people's beliefs in their efficacy to influence events that affect their lives. This core belief is the foundation of human inspiration, motivation, performance accomplishments, and emotional well-being. Unless people believe they can produce desired effects by their actions, they have little incentive to undertake activities or to persevere in the face of dificulties. Whatever other factors serve as guides and motivators, they are rooted in the core belief that one has the power to affect changes by one's actions. This core belief operates through its impact on cognitive, motivational, affective, and decisional processes.

Bandura, A. (1977). Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychological Review, 84, 191-215.
Bandura, A. (1982). Self-efficacy mechanism in human agency.  American Psychologist, 37, 122-147.
Bandura, A. (1988). Self-efficacy conception of anxiety.  Anxiety Research, 1, 77-98. 
Bandura, A. (1988). Perceived self-efficacy:  Exercise of control through self-belief.  In J. Dauwalder, M. Perrez, & V. Hobi (Eds.), Annual series of European research in behavior therapy (Vol. 2, pp. 27-59).  Lisse (NL): Swets & Zeitlinger.
Bandura, A. (1989). Social cognitive theory of organizational management.  Academy of Management Review, 14, 361-384.
Bandura, A. (1993). Perceived self-efficacy in cognitive development and functioning.  Educational Psychologist, 28, 117-148.
Bandura, A. (1994). Self-efficacy. In V. S. Ramachaudran (Ed.), Encyclopedia of human behavior (Vol. 4, pp. 71-81). New York: Academic Press.
Bandura, A. (1998). Personal and collective efficacy in human adaptation and change. In J. G. Adair, D. Belanger, & K. L. Dion (Eds.), Advances in psychological science: Vol. 1. Personal, social and cultural aspects (pp. 51-71). Hove, UK: Psychology Press.
Bandura, A. (2000). Cultivate self-efficacy for personal and organizational efffectiveness. In E. A. Locke (Ed.), Handbook of principles of organization behavior. (pp. 120-136). Oxford, UK: Blackwell.
Bandura, A., & Locke, E. (2003). Negative self-efficacy and goal effects revisited. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88, 87-99.
Bandura, A. (2012). On the functional properties of self-efficacy revisited. Journal of Management , 38, 9-44.
Bandura, A. (2015). On deconstructing commentaries regarding alternative theories of personality. Journal of Management, 41, 1025-1044.

RESEARCH

Bandura, A., & Adams, N. E. (1977). Analysis of self-efficacy theory of behavioral change.  Cognitive Therapy and Research, 1, 287-308.
Bandura, A., Reese, L., & Adams N. E. (1982). Microanalysis of action and fear arousal as a function of differential levels of perceived self-efficacy.  Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 43, 5-21.
Bandura, A., Taylor, C. B., Williams, S. L., Mefford, I. N., Barchas, J. D. (1985). Catecholamine secretion as a function of perceived coping self-efficacy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53, 406-414.
Bandura, A., & Cervone, D. (1986). Differential engagement of self-reactive influences in cognitive motivation.  Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 38, 92-113.
Bandura, A., O’Leary, A., Taylor, C. B., Gauthier, J., & Gossard, D (1987). Perceived self-efficacy in coping with cognitive stressors and opioid activation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 55, 479-488.
Bandura, A., Cioffi, D., Taylor, C., & Brouillard, M. (1988). Perceived self-efficacy in coping with cognitive stressors and opioid activation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 55, 479-488.
Bandura, A., & Wood, R. E. (1989). Effect of perceived controllability and performance standards on self-regulation of complex decision-making. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 56, 805-814.
Wood, R.E., Bandura, A. (1989). Impact of conceptions of ability on self-regulatory mechanisms and complex decision making. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 56, 407-415.
Ozer, E., & Bandura, A. (1990). Mechanisms governing empowerment effects: A self-efficacy analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58, 472-486.
Zimmerman, B. J., Bandura, A., & Martinez-Pons, M. (1992). Self-motivation for academic attainment: The role of self-efficacy beliefs and personal goal-setting.  American Educational Research Journal, 29, 663-676.
Bandura, A., Pastorelli, C., Barbaranelli, C., & Caprara, G. V. (1999). Self-efficacy pathways to childhood depression.  Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 76, 258-269.
Bandura, A., Barbaranelli, C., Caprara, G. V., & Pastorelli, C. (2001). Self-efficacy beliefs as shapers of children’s aspirations and career trajectories.  Child Development, 72, 187-206.
Fernández-Ballesteros, R., Díez-Nicolás, J., Caprara, G. V., Barbaranelli, C., & Bandura, A. (2002). Structural relation of perceived personal efficacy to perceived collective efficacy.  Applied Psychology: An International Review, 51, 107-125.
Caprara, G.V., Fida, A., Vecchionem, M., Del Bove, G., Vecchio, G.M., Barbaranelli, C., & Bandura, A. (2008). Longitudinal analysis of the role of perceived efficacy for self-regulated learning in academic continuance and achievement. Journal of Educational Psychology, 100, 525-534.
Bandura, A., Caprara, G.V., Barbaranelli, C., Regalia, C., & Scabini, E. (2011). Impact of family efficacy beliefs on quality of family functioning and satisfaction with family life. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 60, 421-448.
Stajkovic, A. D., Bandura, A., Locke, L.A. & Lee. D. (2018). Test of three conceptual models of influence of the big five traits and self-efficacy on academic performance: A meta-analytic path-analysis. Personality and individual differences, 120, 238-245

VIDEOS

Toward an Agentic Theory for the New Millenium.
Reducing Urgent Global Problems by Psychosocial Means

BOOKS

Bandura, A. (Ed.) (1995). Self-efficacy in changing societies. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York: Freeman.
.Bandura, A. (2023). Social Cognitive Theory: An agentic perspective on human nature. New Jersey: Wiley & Sons.