Because of such conjointedness, behavior that exerts no effect whatsoever on outcomes is developed and consistently performed

The evaluative habits developed in sibling interactions undoubtedly affect the salience and choice of comparative referents in self-ability evaluations in later life

People's conceptions about themselves and the nature of things are developed and verified through four different processes: direct experience of the effects produced by their actions, vicarious experience of the effects produced by somebody else's actions, judgments voiced by others, and derivation of further knowledge from what they already know by using rules of inference

People are much more likely to act on their self-percepts of efficacy inferred from many sources of information rather than rely primarily on visceral cues. This is not surprising because self knowledge based on information about one's coping skills, past accomplishments, and social comparison is considerably more indicative of capability than the indefinite stirrings of the viscera

If self-efficacy is lacking, people tend to behave ineffectually, even though they know what to do.

Self-belief does not necessarily ensure success, but self-disbelief assuredly spawns failure.

If there is any characteristic that is distinctly human, it is the capability for reflective self-consciousness.