Judgments Of Adequacy Involve Social Comparison Processes

People Are Much More Likely To Act On Their Self-percepts Of Efficacy Inferred From Many Sources Of Information Rather Than Rely Primarily On Visceral Cues. This Is Not Surprising Because Self Knowledge Based On Information About One's Coping Skills, Past Accomplishments, And Social Comparison Is Considerably More Indicative Of Capability Than The Indefinite Stirrings Of The Viscera

It Is No More Informative To Speak Of Self-efficacy In Global Terms Than To Speak Of Nonspecific Social Behavior

Behavior Must Also Be Adequately Assessed Under Appropriate Circumstances. Ill-defined Global Measures Of Perceived Self-efficacy Or Defective Assessments Of Performance Will Yield Discordances. Disparities Will Also Arise When Efficacy Is Judged For Performances In Actual Situations But Performance Is Measured In Simulated Situations That Are Easier To Deal With Than The Actualities

Indeed There Are Many Competent People Who Are Plagued By A Sense Of Inefficacy, And Many Less Competent Ones Who Remain Unperturbed By Impending Threats Because They Are Self-assured Of Their Coping Capabilities

Regression Analyses Show That Self-efficacy Contributes To Achievement Behavior Beyond The Effects Of Cognitive Skills