Persons who have a strong sense of efficacy deploy their attention and effort to the demands of the situation and are spurred by obstacles to greater effort.

People who are insecure about themselves will avoid social comparisons that are potentially threatening to their self-esteem

As a general rule, moderate levels of arousal facilitate deployment of skills, whereas high arousal disrupts it. This is especially true of complex activities requiring intricate organization of behavior

People’s beliefs about their abilities have a profound effect on those abilities.

[Children] receive direct instruction from time to time about the appropriateness of various social comparisons

Humans are producers of their life circumstance not just products of them.

Self-doubt creates the impetus for learning but hinders adept use of previously established skills