Agency (Psychology)

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A Venn diagram showing the relationship between self-concept, self-efficacy, and self-esteem.

In psychology, a "sense of agency refers to the feeling of control over actions and their consequences".^[1] See also: Self-efficacy

According to Thomas S Bateman D.B.A.:

“

Human agency is a mindset plus a set of learnable actions that help us attain what we want in life.

Agency is a psychological concept and comprises four activities: forethought, implementation, self-management, and learning and adapting.

"Agentic" is the strongest competence-related mindset, sitting atop a hierarchy including empowered [(Adequate autonomy and support)], competent, passive [(Don't try to improve which can inhibit a growth mindset)], and declining [(Belief that ability to accomplish is diminishing)]...

To exercise agency is to acquire significant control over your outcomes in life’s various arenas, including school, work, sports, physical health, and psychological well-being.

The Four Pillars of Personal Agency

Full-fledged agency requires believing you can achieve your goal and engaging in the following activities:

1. Forethought: deciding to take on a challenge, thinking ahead, setting goals, and making plans.

2. Implementation: taking first steps, enacting plans, and persisting toward success.

3. Self-management: taking care of yourself, dealing with emotions and stress, and maintaining good health to sustain your efforts.

4. Learning and adapting: monitoring progress, rethinking strategies and tactics, and making effective adjustments.^[2]

”

1 The psychologist Albert Bandura on agency
2 Locus of control
- 2.1 Internal vs. external locus of control
3 Journal articles
4 Free will in theology and philosophy
5 See also
6 External links
7 References

The psychologist Albert Bandura on agency[edit]

See also: Social influence and Social intelligence and Self-efficacy

Albert Bandura (December 4, 1925 – July 26, 2021) was a Canadian-American psychologist. He served as a professor of social science in psychology at Stanford University.^[3]

Bandura was the originator of social learning theory, social cognitive theory, and the psychological concept of self-efficacy.

According to the psychologist Albert Bandura:

“

Agency refers to the human capability to influence one's functioning and the course of events by one's actions. There are four functions through which human agency is exercised. One such function is intentionality. People form intentions that include action plans and strategies for realizing them. The second function involves temporal extension of agency through forethought. People set themselves goals and foresee likely outcomes of prospective actions to guide and motivate their efforts anticipatorily. The third agentic function is self-reactiveness. Agents are not only planners and forethinkers. They are also self-regulators. The fourth agentic function is self-reflectiveness. People are not only agents, they are self-examiners of their own functioning. Through functional self-awareness, they reflect on their personal efficacy, the soundness of their thoughts and actions, the meaning of their pursuits, and make corrective adjustments if necessary.

People exercise their influence through three forms of agency: individual, proxy and collective. In agency exercised individually, people bring their influence to bear on what they can control. In proxy agency, they influence others who have the resources, knowledge, and means to act on their behalf to secure the outcomes they desire. In the exercise of collective agency, people pool their knowledge, skills, and resources and act in concert to shape their future.^[4]

”

Locus of control[edit]

See also: Locus of control

Locus of control is the "extent to which you feel in control of the events that influence your life."^[5]

Internal vs. external locus of control[edit]

According to Kendra Cherry, MSEd:

“

If you believe that you have control over what happens, you have what psychologists refer to as an internal locus of control. If you believe that you have no control over what happens and that external variables are to blame, you have what is known as an external locus of control.5

It is important to note that locus of control is a continuum. No one has a 100% external or internal locus of control. Instead, most people lie somewhere on the continuum between the two extremes.^[6]

”

Christianity teaches the sovereignty of God.^[7] But it also teaches that one has free will and that Christians are co-labors with God (1 Corinthians 3:9).

A person with an external locus of control attributes academic success or failure to a cause or causes other than himself.

In addition, they also struggle more with procrastination and/or difficult tasks.