Self-efficacy: Implementation of Control (Volumes 1 and 2)

Author: (American) Bandura, Miao Xiang and others
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-12-01
Features: Self-efficacy is a concept proposed by the American psychologist A. Bandura as early as 1977. After 20 years of theoretical exploration and empirical research, he published the book "Self-Efficacy—The Exercise of Control" in 1997, providing a comprehensive and systematic discussion of the issue of self-efficacy. In Bandura's works, the term self-efficacy (self-efficacy) is alternately used with terms such as sense of self-efficacy, self-efficacy beliefs, perceived self-efficacy, and efficacy beliefs, referring to an individual's belief in their ability to organize and execute actions to achieve specific accomplishments. Therefore, it is a subjective feeling of an individual's ability, rather than the ability itself. Self-efficacy is an important concept in Bandura's social cognitive theory. In this theory, Bandura particularly emphasizes that humans are agents of action, highlighting the agency (agency) humans possess, i.e., their capacity for initiative. Thus, he argues that the relationship between individuals and their environment, as well as between self and society, is interactive. Humans are both products of their social environment and influencers who shape it. Self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their ability as an agent, which controls their own thoughts and actions and, through it, the environmental conditions they face. Therefore, self-efficacy is a dynamic factor that plays a central role in the self-system. In this book, Bandura provides an in-depth discussion of this idea and comprehensively elaborates on fundamental issues such as the nature, structure, sources of self-efficacy, the development of self-efficacy throughout an individual's life, the pathways and processes through which self-efficacy operates, and more. At the same time, Bandura extends the concept of self-efficacy to groups, analyzing the role of collective efficacy in achievements in schools, communities, various social institutions, and even national political activities. Self-efficacy is not just a theoretical issue; it is closely related to all areas of human practice. In addition to researching the theoretical aspects of self-efficacy, Bandura also pays great attention to applied research on self-efficacy. Nearly half of "Self-Efficacy—The Exercise of Control" is devoted to summarizing research in this area, explaining the function of self-efficacy in fields such as school education, improving health levels, clinical treatment, occupational activities, management, and sports. Whether in theoretical discussions or applied issues, the authors base their arguments on the results of empirical research. The book introduces a large amount of material from experimental studies. These experiments are distinctive in their methodology, with designs and statistical analyses that are quite rigorous, allowing the results to clearly distinguish the role of self-efficacy and other related factors in behavioral achievements. Readers are advised to pay attention to this as well. This book is a monograph on self-efficacy but touches on many theoretical issues related to human psychological characteristics and behavior, such as attribution, motivation, goals, and expectations. Therefore, it is suitable for all psychologists and scholars from other disciplines who are interested in human psychological characteristics and behavioral issues. In the applied section of the book, the authors not only elaborate on the role of self-efficacy in various practical fields but also extensively discuss how to address problems in these fields. This part of the content is valuable for practitioners in various departments, such as teachers, coaches, community workers, clinical workers, managers, and leaders at all levels, in terms of how to perform their work effectively and improve their efficiency.