Who posits that humans are perceived as proactive agents of their experiences?

Albert Bandura is known for his social cognitive theory, which emphasizes the role of observational learning, imitation, and modeling in behavior. A key aspect of Bandura's work is the concept of self-efficacy, which refers to an individual's belief in their own ability to succeed in specific situations. By highlighting that individuals are not merely passive recipients of environmental stimuli but rather proactive agents who influence their experiences, Bandura positions humans as active participants in shaping their own lives and circumstances.

This perspective suggests that people engage in intentional actions based on their expectations for outcomes, further reinforcing the idea that they are capable of self-regulation and self-direction. In contrast, other theorists like Carl Jung focus more on collective unconscious and archetypes, while Abraham Maslow is known for his hierarchy of needs and self-actualization concepts, which, although they recognize human potential, do not specifically center on the idea of proactive agency. Albert Ellis, known for rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), addresses cognitive processes but doesn't emphasize the proactive agency in the same way Bandura does.