This book by renowned psychologist Albert Bandura articulates the idea of "self-efficacy" through lenses of both theory and practice. Self-efficacy is defined as an individual's belief that they have the capacity to achieve goals. This differs from motivation, which relates to an individual's desire to achieve a goal, though Bandura theorized that both are connected. The psychological theory of self-efficacy evolved from Bandura's research in the field of social cognitive theory. Bandura noted that there was a mechanism playing a significant role in personal achievement that hadn't been fully defined or systematically observed by behavioral or cognitive researchers. He defined this mechanism as belief in one's own ability to influence the events of one's life, i.e., self-efficacy. In this book, Bandura identifies cognitive and affective processes that contribute to self-efficacy, the importance of a sense of agency to cultivate self-efficacy, the role of peers and formal education in cultivation of self-efficacy, and how the theory can be used to enhance successful goal achievement throughout life.

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