1. children with high academic self-esteem perform better in schools than those with low academic selfesteem - and children with high social self-esteem are more liked by their peers than those with low social selfesteem. 2. The notion of self-efficacy is based on Bandura's social learning theory. 3. Bandura's initial studies showed that children and adults learned behaviour by observing and imitating others. 4. People's expectations of mastery or achievement andtheir convictions about their own effectiveness also determine the types of behaviour in which they would engage - as also the amount of risk they would undertake. 5. A strong sense of self-efficacy allows people to select - influence - and even construct the circumstances of their own life.