Agency (social cognitive psychology) is the capacity of individuals to influence their own functioning and the course of events by intentionally acting on their environment and themselves. Within the field of social cognitive psychology, this concept emphasizes the cognitive processes underlying human behavior, specifically focusing on the ability to form intentions, plan future actions (forethought), regulate one's motivation and behavior (self-reactiveness), and evaluate one's effectiveness (self-reflectiveness). It represents a core construct for understanding goal-directed behavior, self-regulation, and personal causation, distinguishing the social cognitive perspective on human behavior from deterministic models and situating it within the broader study of social cognition.