title: Outcome expectancy and self-efficacy: theoretical implications of an unresolved contradiction.
abstract: According to self-efficacy theory, self-efficacy--defined as perceived capability to perform a behavior--causally influences expected outcomes of behavior, but not vice versa. However, research has shown that expected outcomes causally influence self-efficacy judgments, and some authors have argued that this relationship invalidates self-efficacy theory. Bandura has rebutted those arguments saying that self-efficacy judgments are not invalidated when influenced by expected outcomes. This article focuses on a contradiction in Bandura's rebuttal. Specifically, Bandura has argued (a) expected outcomes cannot causally influence self-efficacy, but (b) self-efficacy judgments remain valid when causally influenced by expected outcomes. While the debate regarding outcome expectancies and self-efficacy has subsided in recent years, the inattention to this contradiction has led to a disproportionate focus on self-efficacy as a causal determinant of behavior at the expense of expected outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Community Health Promotion, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA. david_m_williams@brown.edu
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D001290:Attitude; D003657:Decision Making; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D009042:Motivation; D011582:Psychological Theory; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012718:Set, Psychology