Theoretical weaknesses lead to practical problems: the example of self-efficacy theory

Abstract

Bandura's self-efficacy concept has received widespread acceptance from psychologists dealing with a varied range of behaviors. This paper argues that, like many related models, its ability to explain human behavior is largely illusory. It has its basis in the argument that behavior arises from complex interactions between unobservable variables which are vaguely defined and cannot be assessed. For example, the process by which efficacy expectations arise from various sources of information, and the interaction of self-efficacy with levels of skill and motivation, are argued to be important, but there is no model to explain how these processes occur. Since unambiguous predictions cannot be made, it is impossible to test the model in a scientific sense. This weakness seriously compromises the practical usefulness of the theory.