Agency
Bandura (2009a) defined human agency as âthe human capability to exert influence over oneâs functioning and the course of events by oneâs actionsâ (p. 8). âThrough cognitive self-guidance, humans can visualize futures that act on the present; construct, evaluate, and modify alternative courses of action to gain valued outcomes; and override environmental influencesâ (p. 8). âTo be an agent is to influence intentionally oneâs functioning and life circumstancesâ (Bandura, 2008c, p. 16).
Four core properties of human agency were described in Bandura (2006b, pp. 164-165) They are (a) intentionality, (b) forethought, (c) self-reactiveness, and (d) self-reflection. Intentionality deals with the forming of intentions that âinclude action plans and strategies for realizing themâ (Bandura, 2009a, p. 8). Source