Thinking about self-efficacy

People's perceptions of their capabilities for performance, or self-efficac y perceptions, are a cognitive mechanism underlying behavioral change. This article addresses three questions in the study of perceived self-efficacy: Do self-efficacy perceptions generalize across situations? Do affective st ates influence perceived self-efficacy? Do people have a singular level of perceived self-efficacy in any domain, or are there multiple aspects to sel f-efficacy perception? These questions are answered by analyzing the cognit ive processes through which people appraise their efficacy for performance. The research reviewed indicates that (a) self-efficacy perceptions general ize across idiosyncratic sets of situations relating to schematic personal attributes; (bf induced negative mood does not reliably influence perceived self-efficacy but does mise performance standards, creating efficacy-stand ards discrepancies; (c) distinct aspects of self-efficacy efficacy appraisa l can be organized by distinguishing between perceived self-efficacy for ex ecuting strategies and for attaining goals.