Self-efficacy is a concept in psychology that refers to an individuals belief in their capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments. It is the belief in ones capabilities to organize and execute the sources of action required to manage prospective situations. Self-efficacy affects every area of human experience, including the goals for which people strive, the amount of energy expended toward goal achievement, and the likelihood of attaining particular levels of behavioral performance.

Self-efficacy is different from self-esteem, which is the sense of self-worth. Self-efficacy is the perception of ones own ability to reach a goal. For example, a person who is a terrible rock climber would probably have poor self-efficacy in that area, but their self-esteem may not be affected.

Self-efficacy beliefs are hypothesized to vary depending on the domain of functioning and circumstances surrounding the occurrence of behavior. Self-efficacy theory has had considerable influence on research, education, and clinical practice. In the field of health psychology, for example, the construct of self-efficacy has been applied to behaviors such as self-management of chronic disease, smoking cessation, alcohol use, eating, pain control, and exercise.

To build high self-efficacy, one can consider doing the following:

• Set realistic goals
• Break tasks into smaller steps
• Practice self-reflection
• Seek out positive role models
• Celebrate successes
• Learn from failures
• Resilience to stress

Overall, self-efficacy is an important concept in psychology that can influence how individuals approach goals, tasks, and challenges in various areas of life.