Theory Database - Theory 57: Self-efficacy theory

This is a searchable database of theories of behaviour change that have been formalised according to an Ontology-Based Modelling System.

For more information, see:

West, R., Godinho, C. A., Bohlen, L. C., Carey, R. N., Hastings, J., Lefevre, C. E., & Michie, S. (2019). Development of a formal system for representing behaviour-change theories. Nature human behaviour, 3(5), 526. doi.org/10.1038/s41562-019-0561-2.
Hale, J., Hastings, J., West, R., Lefevre, C. E., Direito, A., Connell Bohlen, L., Godinho, C., Anderson, N., Zink, S., Goarke, H., and Michie, S. (2020) An ontology-based modelling system (OBMS) for representing behaviour change theories applied to 76 theories [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]. Wellcome Open Research.

Theory 57: Self-efficacy theory

Number of Constructs: 35
Number of Triples: 50

Theory triples

Participant modelling influences Performance accomplishments / mastery experiences
Performance desensitisation influences Performance accomplishments / mastery experiences
Performance exposure influences Performance accomplishments / mastery experiences
Self-instructed performance influences Performance accomplishments / mastery experiences
Live modelling influences Vicarious experience
Symbolic modelling influences Vicarious experience
Suggestion influences Verbal persuasion
Exhortation influences Verbal persuasion
Self-instruction influences Verbal persuasion
Interpretative treatments influences Verbal persuasion
Attribution influences Emotional arousal / physiological states
Relaxation, biofeedback influences Emotional arousal / physiological states
Symbolic desensitisation influences Emotional arousal / physiological states
Symbolic exposure influences Emotional arousal / physiological states
Sources of efficacy expectations influences Self-efficacy
Choices of behavioural activities and settings influences Behaviour
Outcome expectancies influences Behaviour
Self-efficacy influences Choices of behavioural activities and settings
Self-efficacy influences Outcome expectancies
Behaviour influences Self-efficacy
Cognitive appraisal of efficacy information influences the 'Sources of efficacy expectations' to 'Self-efficacy' Influences relationship
Capabilities influences the 'Outcome expectancies' to 'Behaviour' Influences relationship
Incentives influences the 'Outcome expectancies' to 'Behaviour' Influences relationship
Behaviour influences Performance accomplishments / mastery experiences
Performance accomplishments / mastery experiences type of Sources of efficacy expectations
Vicarious experience type of Sources of efficacy expectations
Verbal persuasion type of Sources of efficacy expectations
Emotional arousal / physiological states type of Sources of efficacy expectations
Participant modelling type of Modes of treatment
Performance desensitisation type of Modes of treatment
Performance exposure type of Modes of treatment
Self-instructed performance type of Modes of treatment
Live modelling type of Modes of treatment
Symbolic modelling type of Modes of treatment
Suggestion type of Modes of treatment
Exhortation type of Modes of treatment
Self-instruction type of Modes of treatment
Interpretative treatments type of Modes of treatment
Attribution type of Modes of treatment
Relaxation, biofeedback type of Modes of treatment
Symbolic desensitisation type of Modes of treatment
Symbolic exposure type of Modes of treatment
Magnitude part of Self-efficacy
Generality part of Self-efficacy
Strength part of Self-efficacy
Effort part of Behaviour
Persistence part of Behaviour
Social circumstances part of Cognitive appraisal of efficacy information
Temporal circumstances part of Cognitive appraisal of efficacy information
Situational circumstances part of Cognitive appraisal of efficacy information

Theory constructs and annotations

Participant modelling
Performance accomplishments / mastery experiences The extent to which prior experiences of performing the behaviour have been successful [ BCIO:050886 (Extent of past behavioural achievement) 57 ]
Performance desensitisation
Performance exposure
Self-instructed performance
Live modelling
Vicarious experience Observation of others successfully performing the behaviour or engaging in threatening activities without the expected adverse consequences [ GO:0098597 (Observational learning) 57 70 80 49 ]
Symbolic modelling
Suggestion
Verbal persuasion The act of encouraging someone to believe that they can cope successfully with circumstances that have overwhelmed them in the past [ BCIO:007137 (Persuade about personal capability BCT) 57 ]
Exhortation
Self-instruction
Interpretative treatments
Attribution
Emotional arousal / physiological states A state of excitement or energy expenditure linked to an emotion; elicited by stressful or demanding situations [ MF:0000012 (Arousal) 57 , MFOEM:000003 (Physiological process involved in an emotion) 57 17 52 ]
Relaxation, biofeedback
Symbolic desensitisation
Symbolic exposure
Sources of efficacy expectations The sources of information upon which efficacy expectations are formed
Self-efficacy Belief that one is capable of carrying out a specific behaviour that will lead to desired outcomes [ BCIO:006043 (Self-efficacy belief for a behaviour and its associated outcomes) 57 42 16 ]
Choices of behavioural activities and settings [ BCIO:006047 (Decision) 57 52 6 80 ]
Behaviour [ BCIO:036000 (Individual human behaviour) 57 70 8 5 14 62 63 64 78 81 65 77 13 55 74 79 24 18 53 54 69 71 ]
Outcome expectancies Beliefs about whether a certain behaviour will lead to desired outcomes [ BCIO:050648 (Evaluative belief about the positive consequences of a behaviour) 57 28 32 60 73 78 16 3 ]
Cognitive appraisal of efficacy information The cognitive evaluation of information relating to the belief that one is capable of carrying out a specific behaviour that will lead to desired outcomes [ BCIO:050679 (Evaluation of information about behavioural self-efficacy) 57 ]
Capabilities One's psychological and physical capacity to engage in the activity concerned [ MF:0000043 (Personal capability) 57 67 63 79 ]
Incentives The anticipated satisfactions of desired accomplishments and the negative appraisals of insufficient performance [ BCIO:050649 (evaluative belief about the possible future consequences of one’s behaviour) 57 42 53 ]
Modes of treatment
Magnitude The extent to which self-efficacy expectations relate to beliefs about one's ability to perform simple tasks Vs difficult tasks [ BCIO:006154 (Self-efficacy belief for a behaviour) 57 56 54 66 14 60 81 82 73 16 17 4 42 80 78 ]
Generality The extent to which self-efficacy expectations are applicable only to behaviours in the specific domains in which they have been experienced Vs generalise to other behaviours [ BCIO:050667 (Generality of self-efficacy) 57 ]
Strength The extent to which self-efficacy expectations are extinguished by experiences of failure Vs continue despite a number of unsuccessful attempts [ BCIO:050758 (Resilience of self-efficacy) 57 ]
Effort
Persistence
Social circumstances [ BCIO:006001 (Social environmental system) 57 62 13 68 10 14 69 72 33 60 28 80 41 64 4 65 77 3 ]
Temporal circumstances
Situational circumstances

Theory illustration

Theory Reference

Bandura, A. (1977). Self-efficacy: Toward a Unifying Theory of Behavioural Change. Psychological Review, 84, 191-215.

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