Psychology
What is Self-efficacy?
Self-efficacy is your belief in your own ability to succeed at a specific task or goal. Coined by psychologist Albert Bandura, it shapes how much effort you put in and how you handle setbacks — strong self-efficacy fuels persistence and achievement.
See it, don’t just read it.
Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains self-efficacy.
Key things to understand
- 1It's belief in your ability to succeed at a task.
- 2It's task-specific, not general self-esteem.
- 3It influences effort, persistence, and resilience.
- 4It grows through small wins and practice.
Frequently asked questions
- What is self-efficacy?
- Your belief in your ability to accomplish a specific task or reach a particular goal.
- How is self-efficacy different from self-esteem?
- Self-efficacy is task-specific confidence; self-esteem is your overall sense of self-worth.
- How can you build self-efficacy?
- Through small successes, practice, seeing others succeed, and encouragement.