Editing Human intelligence (section)

=== Bandura's theory of self-efficacy and cognition ===
The view of cognitive ability has evolved over the years, and {{clarify|text=it is no longer viewed as a fixed property held by an individual. Instead, the current perspective describes it as a general capacity|reason=it's unclear what is the essential difference between "a fixed property" and "a general capacity", is it that something that is fixed is not general, or that a capacity is not a property, or something else? They both just sound like fuzzy vague signifiers a la thingamawhatsits.|date=August 2023}}, comprising not only cognitive, but motivational, social, and behavioural aspects as well. These facets work together to perform numerous tasks. An essential skill often overlooked is that of managing emotions and aversive experiences that can compromise one's quality of thought and activity. Bandura bridges the link between intelligence and success by crediting individual differences in [[self-efficacy]]. Bandura's theory identifies the difference between possessing skills and being able to apply them in challenging situations. The theory suggests that individuals with the same level of knowledge and skill may perform badly, averagely, or excellently based on differences in self-efficacy.

A key role of cognition is to allow for one to predict events and in turn devise methods to deal with these events effectively. These skills are dependent on processing of unclear and ambiguous stimuli. People must be able to rely on their reserve of knowledge to identify, develop, and execute options. They must be able to apply the learning acquired from previous experiences. Thus, a stable sense of self-efficacy is essential to stay focused on tasks in the face of challenging situations.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Wood|first1=R.|last2=Bandura|first2=A.|year=1989|title=Social cognitive theory of organizational management|journal=Academy of Management Review|volume=14|issue=3 |pages=361–384|doi=10.2307/258173 |jstor=258173 }}</ref>

Bandura's theory of self-efficacy and intelligence suggests that individuals with a relatively low sense of self-efficacy in any field will avoid challenges. This effect is heightened when they perceive the situations as ''personal threats''. When failure occurs, they recover from it more slowly than others, and credit the failure to an insufficient aptitude. On the other hand, persons with high levels of self-efficacy hold {{clarify|text=a task-diagnostic aim|reason=jargon|date=August 2023}} that leads to effective performance.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Bandura | first1 = A | s2cid = 52256247 | year = 1993 | title = Perceived self-efficacy in cognitive development and functioning | journal = Educational Psychologist | volume = 28 | issue = 2| pages = 117–148 | doi=10.1207/s15326985ep2802_3}}</ref>