Toward a psychology of human agency Flashcards
What is the central concept of Bandura’s (2006) paper on human agency?
Human agency refers to the capacity of individuals to act intentionally and make choices that affect their own lives and the world around them.
How does Bandura define human agency?
Human agency is the ability to influence one’s own functioning and environmental events, enabling individuals to shape their behaviors, experiences, and outcomes through conscious choices and actions.
What are the key components of human agency according to Bandura?
Intentionality: Acting with intention and purpose.
Forethought: Anticipating future outcomes and planning accordingly.
Self-reactiveness: Regulating one’s actions to achieve desired goals.
Self-reflectiveness: Reflecting on one’s actions and outcomes to guide future behavior.
What role does self-efficacy play in human agency?
Self-efficacy refers to an individual’s belief in their own ability to successfully perform tasks and achieve goals. It is a crucial factor in enabling human agency as it affects motivation, perseverance, and the choice of activities.
How does self-regulation relate to human agency?
Self-regulation involves setting goals, monitoring progress, and adjusting behavior to stay on track. It is essential for human agency as it helps individuals control their actions and direct them toward achieving personal objectives.
How do cognitive factors influence human agency?
Cognitive factors, such as self-reflection and forethought, help individuals plan their actions, evaluate potential consequences, and adjust their behavior based on experience and future goals, enhancing human agency.
What is the relationship between human agency and social structures?
While individuals have the power to act intentionally, social structures can either enable or constrain human agency. Social systems, norms, and roles provide frameworks that shape and limit the choices available to individuals.
How does human agency relate to moral actions?
Human agency plays a key role in moral actions as individuals make ethical decisions based on their values, intentions, and reflections. Agency allows people to choose actions that align with their moral beliefs or to change behaviors that conflict with their values.
How does Bandura describe the role of environmental influences in human agency?
Environmental influences play a significant role in shaping human agency by providing opportunities or obstacles. However, individuals with high agency can alter or transform their environments to meet their needs and goals.
How do emotion regulation and human agency interact?
Effective emotion regulation enhances human agency by allowing individuals to manage emotional responses that may otherwise impede goal-directed actions, enabling more deliberate and purposeful behavior.
What is the role of social learning in human agency?
Social learning helps individuals acquire new skills, behaviors, and strategies for exercising their human agency through observing others, which can expand their choices and enhance their self-efficacy.
How does collective agency differ from individual human agency?
Collective agency refers to the capacity of groups or communities to act together to achieve common goals, whereas individual agency pertains to personal choices and actions. Both are shaped by similar psychological processes but operate on different scales.
How does human agency contribute to psychological well-being?
Human agency enhances psychological well-being by promoting a sense of control, competence, and mastery. The ability to make choices and influence outcomes fosters self-efficacy and self-esteem, contributing to a positive sense of self.
What are some barriers to human agency mentioned by Bandura?
Barriers to human agency include learned helplessness, lack of self-efficacy, negative social influences, and environmental constraints that limit an individual’s ability to act effectively
What is Bandura’s vision for human agency in the future?
Bandura envisions that enhancing human agency through education, empowerment, and self-regulation can lead to greater personal autonomy, social change, and the ability to address complex global challenges.
How can self-reflection enhance human agency?
Self-reflection helps individuals assess their actions, learn from experiences, and adjust future behaviors, allowing them to exercise more effective agency and adapt to changing circumstances.
