Self-efficacy, defined by psychologist Albert Bandura, is an individual's belief in their capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments. It shapes how people think, behave, and feel, influencing everything from motivation and goal-setting to resilience in the face of failure. Unlike global self-esteem, self-efficacy is domain-specific and malleable, making it a powerful lever for personal and professional growth. Understanding how to systematically build self-efficacy—through mastery experiences, social modeling, persuasion, and physiological state management—provides a practical roadmap for developing confidence that translates directly into improved performance.
What This Cheat Sheet Covers
This topic spans 12 focused tables and 71 indexed concepts. Below is a complete table-by-table outline of this topic, spanning foundational concepts through advanced details.
Table 1: Bandura's Four Primary Sources
| Source | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|
Successfully completing a challenging coding project independently | • Most powerful source of self-efficacy • direct evidence of capability through personal performance accomplishments builds authentic confidence. | |
Watching a peer with similar background successfully present at a conference | • Observing relatable others succeed increases belief that one can achieve similar outcomes • similarity to the model amplifies the effect. |