Final answer:
Self-efficacy is an individual's belief in their ability to succeed in specific tasks, a concept central to understanding motivation and behavior as theorized by Albert Bandura. It can be improved by mastering tasks, observing others, receiving positive persuasion, and interpreting personal physiological states favorably.
Step-by-step explanation:
Self-efficacy is the belief in one's own ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish a task. This concept, extensively discussed by Albert Bandura, is crucial for understanding motivation, behavior, and personal development. People with high self-efficacy view challenges as tasks to be mastered and are invested in their activities, showing resilience in the face of setbacks. Conversely, those with low self-efficacy may avoid challenges and focus on potential failures.
To improve self-efficacy, one can:
Moreover, understanding reciprocal determinism, as proposed by Bandura, can also help in influencing one's self-efficacy, as it denotes the interacting influences between personal factors, behavior, and the environment.