People who hold a low view of themselves [will credit] their achievements to external factors, rather than to their own capabilities.

Moral justification is a powerful disengagement mechanism. Destructive conduct is made personally and socially acceptable by portraying it in the service of moral ends. This is why most appeals against violent means usually fall on deaf ears.

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

Such knowledge is probably gained in several ways. One process undoubtedly operates through social comparison of success and failure experiences. Children repeatedly observe their own behavior and the attainments of others

In social cognitive theory, perceived self-efficacy results from diverse sources of information conveyed vicariously and through social evaluation, as well as through direct experience

People with high assurance in their capabilities approach difficult tasks as challenges to be mastered rather than as threats to be avoided.

Misbeliefs in one's inefficacy may retard development of the very subskills upon which more complex performances depend