Reviewed here is the professional life of Albert Bandura, one of the most highly cited scholars in the entire history of psychology. From a modest childhood in rural Canada, Bandura emerged as an innovative theorist and ingenious experimentalist in the development of a social cognitive theory that placed strong emphasis on the human capacity to control both the external and internal environment. His work on modeling and complex social cognition has had a profound influence on our conceptions of personality development and change, including the burgeoning field of cognitive behavioral therapy. In recent years, his work has been applied to large-scale societal efforts to improve human health and safety and to help people make choices in creating meaningful lives for themselves.