--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The difficulty in judging what type of…" description: "\"The difficulty in judging what type of behavior works well arises not only because a given course of action does not always produce the outcomes. Simil..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be4/albert-bandura-3524_action_the-difficulty-in-judging-what-type-of-b_1854444.jpg" --- # The difficulty in judging what type of behavior works well… ![“The difficulty in judging what type of behavior works well arises not only because a given course of action does not always produce the outcomes. Similar outcomes can occur for reasons other than the person's actions, which further complicates inferential judgment. Effects that arise independently…” quote by Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be4/albert-bandura-3524_action_the-difficulty-in-judging-what-type-of-b_1854444.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be4/albert-bandura-3524_action_the-difficulty-in-judging-what-type-of-b_1854444.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be4/albert-bandura-3524_action_the-difficulty-in-judging-what-type-of-b_1854444.jpg) > “The difficulty in judging what type of behavior works well arises not only because a given course of action does not always produce the outcomes. Similar outcomes can occur for reasons other than the person's actions, which further complicates inferential judgment. Effects that arise independently of one's actions distort the influence of similar effects produced by the actions, but only on some occasions. Given a strong cognitive set to perceive regularities, even chance joint occurrences of events can be easily misjudged as genuine relationships of low contingent probability” [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. We often misinterpret cause and effect because outcomes can arise from unrelated factors, leading to faulty judgments about behavior effectiveness. **In simple terms:** Hard to tell if actions truly cause results. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about causality. Themes cognition judgment causality bias psychology Mood critical analytical Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - research analysis - policy evaluation - personal decision making - risk assessment Key Concepts Attribution error confounding variables probability reasoning Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify if an outcome truly stems from your action? - What methods reduce misattribution? A Different Perspective Human bias can obscure true causal links, especially in complex systems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Arise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arise/) [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Cognitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cognitive/) [Complicates Inferential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complicates-inferential-2455697/) [Contingent Probability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contingent-probability-2455699/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Difficulty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficulty/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effects/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Genuine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genuine/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Inferential Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inferential-judgment-2455696/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Joints](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joints/) [Judging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judging/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Judgment Effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment-effects-2455695/) [Lows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lows/) [Occasions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occasions/) [Outcomes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outcomes/) [Perceive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perceive/) [Perceive Regularities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perceive-regularities-2455698/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Probability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/probability/) [Produce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/produce/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Regularity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regularity/) [Self efficacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-efficacy/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Type](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/type/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [After people become convinced they have what it takes to succeed, they persevere in the face of adversity and quickly rebound from setbacks. By…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/after-people-become-convinced-they-have-what-it-takes-to-succeed-they/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [Dualistic doctrines that regard mind and body as separate entities do not provide much enlightenment on the nature of the disembodied mental state or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/dualistic-doctrines-that-regard-mind-and-body-as-separate-entities-do/) [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/) > [ 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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [ \[Children\] 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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [It is no more informative to speak of self-efficacy in global terms than to speak of nonspecific social behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/it-is-no-more-informative-to-speak-of-self-efficacy-in-global-terms/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) ## 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 Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. 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Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. 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