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Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control. By Albert Bandura. New York: W. H. Freeman and Co. 1997. Pp. ix + 604.
Social cognitive theory, and the part played in it by self-efficacy-the belief that you can successfully accomplish what you set out to do-has had a major role in the development of psychological theory and of the practical applications of psychology since the ideas were first developed over 20 years ago. This is hardly surprising given the obvious importance of two sets of findings. The first demonstrates the effects of believing that one has some control or mastery over the events in one's life, ranging from a greater willingness to take risks and tackle difficulties, an increased likelihood of developing new skills or using existing ones, and greater resilience in the face of failure, criticism or loss. The second set has documented Bandura's claim that self-efficacy is not a fixed quantity, but can be acquired. Learning how to foster and develop it in ourselves, in...