Bandura (1977) - Self-Efficacy Theory
This study introduces self-efficacy, defined as the belief in one’s ability to achieve specific outcomes. Bandura identifies four key sources that shape self-efficacy:
Mastery Experiences: Success builds confidence, while failure undermines it. Vicarious Experiences: Observing others succeed boosts belief in one’s own abilities. Verbal Persuasion: Encouragement and positive feedback enhance self-belief. Emotional States: Calm, positive emotions support confidence; stress and anxiety hinder it. Self-efficacy influences goal-setting, effort, persistence, and emotional resilience. It’s not fixed and can be improved through incremental success, positive reinforcement, and emotional regulation.
This groundbreaking theory has shaped research in education, sports, and personal development by demonstrating that belief in oneself is critical for success.
In his mega bestseller, Thinking, Fast and Slow, Daniel Kahneman, world-famous psychologist and winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, takes us on a groundbreaking tour of the mind and explains the two systems that drive the way we think.
System 1 is fast, intuitive, and emotional; System 2 is slower, more deliberative, and more logical. The impact of overconfidence on corporate strategies, the difficulties of predicting what will make us happy in the future, the profound effect of cognitive biases on everything from playing the stock market to planning our next vacation―each of these can be understood only by knowing how the two systems shape our judgments and decisions.
