The notion of self-efficacy is based on __________ theory.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Bandura’s social learning
Option (1) Bandura’s social learning — Correct. The notion of self-efficacy is based on Bandura’s social learning theory. Bandura found that children and adults learn behaviour by observing and imitating others, and that people’s expectations of mastery and their convictions about their own effectiveness decide what behaviour they will engage in. A person who believes that s/he has the ability required by a situation shows high self-efficacy.
Option (2) Skinner’s instrumental conditioning — Incorrect. In instrumental (operant) conditioning, a behaviour is learnt because it is followed by a reward. It explains learning through consequences, not a person’s belief in her or his own ability.
Option (3) Pavlov’s classical conditioning — Incorrect. Classical conditioning is learning by association of two events that repeatedly occur close together in time. It says nothing about self-belief.
Option (4) Childhood experiences — Incorrect. Childhood experiences are stressed by the psychodynamic approach, which traces personality to early conflicts. Self-efficacy is not a theory of childhood experiences; it comes from observing others and from one’s own experience of mastery.
Note: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2022 on 16-07-2022 (Slot 1), in CUET (UG) 2025 on 20-05-2025 (Slot 1), and in CUET (UG) 2026 on 29-05-2026 (Slot 2) and 06-06-2026 (Slot 1).
NCERT (2025-26): “Self-efficacy … Self-efficacy is another important aspect of our self. People differ in the extent to which they believe they themselves control their life outcomes or the outcomes are controlled by luck or fate or other situational factors, e.g. passing an examination. A person who believes that s/he has the ability or behaviours required by a particular situation demonstrates high self-efficacy. The notion of self-efficacy is based on Bandura’s social learning theory. Bandura’s initial studies showed that children and adults learned behaviour by observing and imitating others. People’s expectations of mastery or achievement and their convictions about their own effectiveness also determine the types of behaviour in which they would engage, as also the amount of risk they would undertake. A strong sense of self-efficacy allows people to select, influence, and even construct the circumstances of their own life. People with a strong sense of self-efficacy also feel less fearful.…” |