Albert Bandura

Learning would be exceedingly laborious, not to mention hazardous, if people had to rely solely on the effects of their own actions to inform them what to do. Fortunately, most human behavior is learned observationally through modeling: from observing others one forms an idea of how new behaviors are performed, and on later occasions this coded information serves as a guide for action.

People are producers of their life circumstances, not just products of them.

Self-efficacy is the belief in one's capabilities to organize and execute the courses of action required to manage prospective situations.

The capacity to exercise control over one's own thought processes, motivation, and action is a distinctly human characteristic.

Psychological functioning is a product of the reciprocal interaction of intrapersonal, behavioral, and environmental determinants.

Goals are not simply dreams or wishes; they are concrete plans of action that you wish to achieve.

The most effective way to increase self-efficacy is through mastery experiences.

People's beliefs about their efficacy affect their thought patterns, actions, and emotional arousal.

Moral disengagement is a process that allows individuals to violate their own moral standards without feeling distress or guilt.

The power of human agency to effect change is a recurring theme in social cognitive theory.

To the extent that people can regulate their own motivation, thought processes, emotional states, and patterns of behavior, they are agents of their own development.

Human functioning is a product of a dynamic interplay of personal, behavioral, and environmental influences.

Most human behavior is learned observationally through modeling: from observing others one forms an idea of how new behaviors are performed, and on later occasions this coded information serves as a guide for action.

The stronger the perceived self-efficacy, the more active the efforts.

People who believe they have the power to take action are more likely to take action.

The human capacity for forethought enables people to anticipate the likely consequences of their prospective actions.

Self-efficacy beliefs are the foundation of human agency.

The capacity to symbolize enables people to represent events, to analyze their conscious experience, and to communicate with others.

People are not just reactive organisms shaped by environmental forces or driven by inner impulses. They are self-organizing, proactive, self-reflecting, and self-regulating.

The more people believe they can bring about desired changes, the more they are likely to succeed.