quote:

If there was a single principle undergirding his work, however, it was the idea of personal agency — that people, through their beliefs about themselves and the processes of self-reflection and self-regulation, can exert control over their lives.

“If you look at my life path, you try to make the most of whatever is there,” Dr. Bandura said. “And to do that, you have to believe that through your actions you can influence the course of your life.”