In general, efficacy is the ability to produce an effect, usually a specifically desired effect. For example, an efficacious vaccine has the ability to prevent or cure a specific illness. In medicine a distinction is often drawn between 'efficacy' and 'effectiveness'. Whereas efficacy may be shown in clinical trials, effectiveness is demonstrated in practice. The concept of 'self-efficacy' is an important one in the self-management of chronic diseases.
In psychology, self-efficacy is the belief that one can perform a certain behaviour, or learn to perform it. For example, self-efficacious persons believe that they have the ability to learn many skills. Self-efficacy is similar to self-concept but the difference is that self-concept deals with how you believe you can perform in a wide variety of activities. This is to say that someone might have either a generally positive or negative self-concept. Self-efficacy is different because it is situation-specific. You can have a high self-efficacy in one area and a low self-efficacy in another. One might have a high self-efficacy in language arts but a low self-efficacy in mathematics. People are more likely to engage in certain behaviors if they have a high self-efficacy in that area. For example, someone might work hard at learning a new dance routine if they have a high self-efficacy for dance. A sense of personal efficacy, as reported in public opinion surveys , is one of the strongest predictors of whether or not an individual will participate in a given political system (especially, in democracies, voting).
One of the biggest advocates of self-efficacy is Canadian psychologist Albert Bandura. See the book "Social Foundations of Thought and Action" and "The Sense of Self- Efficacy" for an explanation of his Social Learning Theory which leans heavily on self-efficacy.
In politics, there are three types of efficacy: internal, external, and political. Internal efficacy is the confidence in one's ability to take part in political affairs. External efficacy is the belief that political system will respond to the demand of citizens. Political efficacy is the belief that political participation will influence political events.
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