Acta Psychologica Sinica

Abstract

Self-efficacy, as presented in Bandura’s social learning and social cognition theories is a construct, which refers mainly to beliefs about specific behaviors in specific situations (specific self-efficacy, SSE). Some researchers have expanded the construct to include a more trait-like variable dubbed general self-efficacy (GSE). Focused on managerial self-efficacy (MSE), the relationship between SSE and GSE was explored by in this research. The results showed that: (1) both MSE and GSE were important variables to predict managers’ job performance, but GSS didn’t predict well job performance as MSE; (2) MSE has significant correlations with work-related attitudes, but no relationships were found between GSE and work-related attitudes; (3) MSE mediates the relationships between GSE and job performance, and relationships between GSE and work-related attitudes. The above findings support that self-efficacy may be conceptualized as both a state (SSE) and a trait (GSE), but SSE should be given a priority if the objective is to explain the motivational dynamics leading to performance in a specific situation or on a highly specific task.

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