--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there is any characteristic that is…" description: "\"If there is any characteristic that is distinctly human, it is the capability for reflective self-consciousness.\" — Albert Bandura" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b77/albert-bandura-3524_capability_if-there-is-any-characteristic-that-is-d_3101325.png" --- # If there is any characteristic that is distinctly human… ![“If there is any characteristic that is distinctly human, it is the capability for reflective self-consciousness.” quote by Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b77/albert-bandura-3524_capability_if-there-is-any-characteristic-that-is-d_3101325.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b77/albert-bandura-3524_capability_if-there-is-any-characteristic-that-is-d_3101325.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b77/albert-bandura-3524_capability_if-there-is-any-characteristic-that-is-d_3101325.png) > “If there is any characteristic that is distinctly human, it is the capability for reflective self-consciousness.” [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human uniqueness lies in reflective self‑consciousness, enabling introspection and self‑regulation beyond instinct. **In simple terms:** Humans can reflect on themselves. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑reflection habits. Themes psychology human nature self‑awareness education Mood thoughtful introspective Type theoretical educational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - educational curricula - personal development plans Key Concepts reflective consciousness metacognition identity formation Questions to Reflect On - How does reflective awareness influence decision‑making? - When can self‑consciousness become limiting? A Different Perspective Self‑reflection can lead to over‑analysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Capability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capability/) [Characteristic Distinctly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characteristic-distinctly-5375987/) [Characteristics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characteristics/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Distinctly Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinctly-human-1529708/) [Educational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educational/) [Human Capability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-capability-3351460/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Reflective Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reflective-self-1791879/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-consciousness/) ## Related quotes > [The things that happen on the sea take you beyond yourself, beyond human capability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-sunderland/the-things-that-happen-on-the-sea-take-you-beyond-yourself-beyond/) [Abby Sunderland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-sunderland/) > [The practicality of technology may distinguish it from art, but both spring from a similar, distinctly human yearning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-g-carr/the-practicality-of-technology-may-distinguish-it-from-art-but-both/) [Nicholas G. Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-g-carr/) > [Art is man's distinctly human way of fighting death,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-baskin/art-is-man-s-distinctly-human-way-of-fighting-death/) [Leonard Baskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-baskin/) > [The art of the cuisine, when fully mastered, is the one human capability of which only good things can be said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/the-art-of-the-cuisine-when-fully-mastered-is-the-one-human/) [Friedrich Durrenmatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/) > [“The many aspects of self are based on structures and processes spread throughout the brain and nervous system, and embedded in the body’s interactions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/the-many-aspects-of-self-are-based-on-structures-and-processes-spread/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [“The early parent-child environment, the balance between being and doing, lives on in the mind. Mindfulness offers an opportunity to see these patterns clearly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-epstein/the-early-parent-child-environment-the-balance-between-being-and/) [Mark Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-epstein/) > [I definitely fall into the camp of thinking of AI as augmenting human capability and capacity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/i-definitely-fall-into-the-camp-of-thinking-of-ai-as-augmenting-human/) [Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/) > [“The autobiographical self (D’Amasio 2000) incorporates the reflective self and some of the emotional self, and it provides the sense of “I” having a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/the-autobiographical-self-d-amasio-2000-incorporates-the-reflective/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [People judge their capabilities partly by comparing their performances with those of others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/people-judge-their-capabilities-partly-by-comparing-their/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [Indeed there are many competent people who are plagued by a sense of inefficacy, and many less competent ones who remain unperturbed by impending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/indeed-there-are-many-competent-people-who-are-plagued-by-a-sense-of/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [Reasonably accurate appraisal of one's own capabilities is, therefore, of considerable value in successful functioning. Large misjudgments of personal efficacy in either direction have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/reasonably-accurate-appraisal-of-one-s-own-capabilities-is-therefore/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [Among the types of thoughts that affect action, none is more central or pervasive than people's judgments of their capabilities to deal effectively with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/among-the-types-of-thoughts-that-affect-action-none-is-more-central/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [Self-efficacy is the belief in one's capabilities to organize and execute the sources of action required to manage prospective situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/self-efficacy-is-the-belief-in-one-s-capabilities-to-organize-and/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [“Be soul-conscious not self-conscious. Self-consciousness is egocentric and soul-consciousness is spiritual.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/be-soul-conscious-not-self-conscious-self-consciousness-is-egocentric/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I suggest that just as self-consciousness is the goal for all the subhuman forms of life, and as group consciousness, or the consciousness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-bailey/i-suggest-that-just-as-self-consciousness-is-the-goal-for-all-the/) [Alice Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-bailey/) ## More by Albert Bandura > [Persons who have a strong sense of efficacy deploy their attention and effort to the demands of the situation and are spurred by obstacles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/persons-who-have-a-strong-sense-of-efficacy-deploy-their-attention/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [I have often been struck by the fact that most parents who are experiencing positive and rewarding relationships with their pre-adolescent children are, nevertheless,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/i-have-often-been-struck-by-the-fact-that-most-parents-who-are/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [Self-efficacy is the belief in one's capabilities to organize and execute the sources of action required to manage prospective situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/self-efficacy-is-the-belief-in-one-s-capabilities-to-organize-and/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [Agemates provide the most informative points of reference for comparative efficacy appraisal and verification. Children are, therefore, especially sensitive to their relative standing among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/agemates-provide-the-most-informative-points-of-reference-for/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [People who have a sense of self-efficacy bounce back from failure; they approach things in terms of how to handle them rather than worrying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/people-who-have-a-sense-of-self-efficacy-bounce-back-from-failure/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [Reasonably accurate appraisal of one's own capabilities is, therefore, of considerable value in successful functioning. Large misjudgments of personal efficacy in either direction have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/reasonably-accurate-appraisal-of-one-s-own-capabilities-is-therefore/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [ \[Children\] receive direct instruction from time to time about the appropriateness of various social comparisons ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/children-receive-direct-instruction-from-time-to-time-about-the/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [People who regard themselves as highly efficacious act, think, and feel differently from those who perceive themselves as inefficacious. They produce their own future,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/people-who-regard-themselves-as-highly-efficacious-act-think-and-feel/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [Behavior must also be adequately assessed under appropriate circumstances. Ill-defined global measures of perceived self-efficacy or defective assessments of performance will yield discordances. Disparities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/behavior-must-also-be-adequately-assessed-under-appropriate/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [Forceful actions arising from erroneous beliefs often create social effects that confirm the misbeliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/forceful-actions-arising-from-erroneous-beliefs-often-create-social/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [Perceived self-inefficacy predicts avoidance of academic activities whereas anxiety does not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/perceived-self-inefficacy-predicts-avoidance-of-academic-activities/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [ Stringent standards of self-evaluation \[can\] make otherwise objective successes seem to be personal failures ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/stringent-standards-of-self-evaluation-can-make-otherwise-objective/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [Self-appraisals of efficacy are reasonably accurate, but they diverge from action because people do not know fully what they will have to do, lack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/self-appraisals-of-efficacy-are-reasonably-accurate-but-they-diverge/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [People’s beliefs about their abilities have a profound effect on those abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/people-s-beliefs-about-their-abilities-have-a-profound-effect-on/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [Humans are producers of their life circumstance not just products of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/humans-are-producers-of-their-life-circumstance-not-just-products-of/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) [Explore all 128 Albert Bandura quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) ## More Capability quotes > [Capability is just a concept of what is it we're looking at. Now how far we can go along that and what new capabilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/capability-is-just-a-concept-of-what-is-it-we-re-looking-at-now-how/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [We artists give daily thanks for the miracle of our planet and for the inclination and the capability to honour it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/we-artists-give-daily-thanks-for-the-miracle-of-our-planet-and-for/) [Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/) > [Few men realize that their life, the very essence of their character, their capabilities and their audacities, are only the expression of their belief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/few-men-realize-that-their-life-the-very-essence-of-their-character/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [One of the capabilities, which seems to be the most difficult for aspiring leaders to maste is realistic optimism. It requires one to recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-menkes/one-of-the-capabilities-which-seems-to-be-the-most-difficult-for/) [Justin Menkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-menkes/) > [You have the capability to change your life all with a simple shift in perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/you-have-the-capability-to-change-your-life-all-with-a-simple-shift/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [If you are facing a new challenge or being asked to do something that you have never done before don’t be afraid to step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/if-you-are-facing-a-new-challenge-or-being-asked-to-do-something-that/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Clearly, if wed had the kind of computer graphics capability then that we have now, the Star Gate sequence would be much more complex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-trumbull/clearly-if-wed-had-the-kind-of-computer-graphics-capability-then-that/) [Douglas Trumbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-trumbull/) > [We've learned that we've allowed technological capabilities to dictate policies and practices, rather than ensuring that our laws and values guide our technological capabilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/we-ve-learned-that-we-ve-allowed-technological-capabilities-to/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I'm just confident in myself and my capability to be able to play this position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-bridgewater/i-m-just-confident-in-myself-and-my-capability-to-be-able-to-play/) [Teddy Bridgewater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-bridgewater/) > [Primarily affecting low-information voters and members of the mainstream media, Obama Worship Syndrome attributes impossible capabilities to Obama's political opponents, finds excuses for every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/primarily-affecting-low-information-voters-and-members-of-the/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [The Iranians know that if they develop nuclear weapons, they will be in tremendous jeopardy from military capabilities of their neighbors and of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-nunn/the-iranians-know-that-if-they-develop-nuclear-weapons-they-will-be/) [Sam Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-nunn/) > [I have proved my capability to everyone - my fans and critics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arshad-warsi/i-have-proved-my-capability-to-everyone-my-fans-and-critics/) [Arshad Warsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arshad-warsi/) > [I will then ask for a plan to immediately protect those vulnerabilities and then fix them.At the same time, we will invest heavily in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-will-then-ask-for-a-plan-to-immediately-protect-those/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I've seen people recover physical abilities, yet never get over emotional trauma after a serious accident. I've seen other people overcome the psychological and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-stovall/i-ve-seen-people-recover-physical-abilities-yet-never-get-over/) [Jim Stovall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-stovall/) [Browse all 801 Capability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If there is any characteristic that is distinctly human, it is the capability for reflective self-consciousness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Albert Bandura" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/if-there-is-any-characteristic-that-is-distinctly-human-it-is-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Capability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/if-there-is-any-characteristic-that-is-distinctly-human-it-is-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b77/albert-bandura-3524_capability_if-there-is-any-characteristic-that-is-d_3101325.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b77/albert-bandura-3524_capability_if-there-is-any-characteristic-that-is-d_3101325.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b77/albert-bandura-3524_capability_if-there-is-any-characteristic-that-is-d_3101325.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If there is any characteristic that is distinctly human, it is the capability for reflective…” — Albert Bandura", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Albert Bandura", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If there is any characteristic that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/if-there-is-any-characteristic-that-is-distinctly-human-it-is-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/if-there-is-any-characteristic-that-is-distinctly-human-it-is-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```