A Theory That Denies That Thoughts Can

Incongruities Between Self-efficacy And Action May Stem From Misperceptions Of Task Demands, As Well As From Faulty Self-knowledge

Persons Who Have A Strong Sense Of Efficacy Deploy Their Attention And Effort To The Demands Of The Situation And Are Spurred By Obstacles To Greater Effort.

Reasonably Accurate Appraisal Of One's Own Capabilities Is, Therefore, Of Considerable Value In Successful Functioning. Large Misjudgments Of Personal Efficacy In Either Direction Have Consequences. People Who Grossly Overestimate Their Capabilities Undertake Activities That Are Clearly Beyond Their Reach. As A Result, They Get Themselves Into Considerable Difficulties, Undermine Their Credibility, And Suffer Needless Failures. Some Of The Missteps, Of Course, Can Produce Serious, Irreparable Harm

Gaining Insight Into One's Underlying Motives, It Seems, Is More Like A Belief Conversion Than A Self-discovery Process

When People Are Not Aiming For Anything In Particular Or When They Cannot Monitor Their Performance, There Is Little Basis For Translating Perceived Efficacy Into Appropriate Magnitudes Of Effort