Mutual efficacy – defined as, “Group members’ beliefs that collective action can be successful at achieving group goals,” was designed to integrate the psychological and sociological literature on collective efficacy. In sociology, collective efficacy refers to the process by which social cohesion is activated as informal social control. In psychology, collective efficacy is a construct reflecting the perceived capability of a group. Previous research supports mutual efficacy as a partial mediator of the relationship between social cohesion and informal social control. However, mutual efficacy is theorised to be a task-specific construct. This study contributes to our understanding of mutual efficacy by examining the relationships among social cohesion, mutual efficacy, and two actions: neighbouring and participation in organisations. The mediational role of mutual efficacy is supported for both actions. Findings contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms that inform action in communities, and highlight complex – possibly reciprocal – relationships among social cohesion, mutual efficacy, and action.
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