Self-efficacy is a belief that one "has what it takes" to successfully perform a behavior in a situation-specific context. High self-efficacy does not ensure an individual will perform better. If the individual lacks the skills, they may not be able to attain the expected level of performance and may give up. The more self-efficate, the more likely an individual will engage in the behavior to produce the expected result.

• Self-efficacy has been defined as people's judgments of their capabilities to organize and execute courses of action or to produce an effect.
• Self-efficacy theory has been shown to affect an individual's motivation to a wide variety of behaviors including assertiveness training, pain tolerance and control, adherence to an exercise program, and academic performance.
• A key component of behavioral change is the expectation of personal mastery. Accordingly, both initiation of a specific behavior and persistence of such behavior in a difficult situation are directly linked to one's efficacy within the given situation.

Perceived self-efficacy enhances performance directly and indirectly through its effects on personal goals, self reactions, and on the use of analytic strategies.

Characteristics demonstrated:

Expose themselves to a wider choice of options.

Set high goals.

More willing to try new alternatives.

Able to visualize corrective alternatives when needed.

More likely to persevere when faced with challenges and threats.

Don't shield selves from personal weaknesses/negative self-conceptions.

Outcome expectancies are the individual's estimate that the behavior will produce a specific outcome. An individual is more likely to choose a situation, put forth more effort to achieve the outcome, and pursue the behavior tenaciously if he or she believes that the behavior is preferable by him or herself.

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