What is Albert Bandura's concept of self-efficacy?

Albert Bandura's concept of self-efficacy refers to the belief in one's own abilities to successfully execute specific tasks or skills. This belief plays a crucial role in how individuals approach goals, tasks, and challenges. When someone has high self-efficacy, they are more likely to take on challenges, persist in the face of difficulties, and ultimately achieve their objectives because they believe in their capability to succeed.

Self-efficacy is situational and can vary from one task to another. For instance, a student may have high self-efficacy in mathematics but lower self-efficacy in public speaking. This belief influences levels of motivation and effort, leading individuals to either embrace or avoid challenges based on their confidence in their abilities.

Understanding self-efficacy is important for educators because it can inform teaching practices that help build students' confidence in their skills, which in turn can enhance their learning outcomes.