Collective Efficacy

Abstract

One's perceptions or beliefs about expected competency in an achievement domain are a critical determinant of motivation and performance. Constructs that incorporate such beliefs and have been tied to successful performance include effectance motivation (White, 1959), personal causation (DeCharms, 1968), locus of control (Rotter, 1966), intrinsic motivation (Deci, 1975), explanatory style (Peterson & Seligman, 1984), personal control (Greenberger & Strasser, 1986), and self-efficacy (Bandura, 1977, 1982, 1986). A common component across these constructs is a self-perceived performance mastery that governs choices within an achievement domain and ``encourages intellectual, emotional, behavioral, and physiological vigor in the face of challenge'' (Peterson & Stunkard, 1989, p. 820).