Fortuity and agency

A seemingly insignificant fortuitous event can set in motion constellations of influences that change the course of lives.

Fortuity does not mean uncontrollability of its effects. People can bring some influence to bear on the fortuitous character of life. They can make chance happen by pursuing an active life that increases the number and type of fortuitous encounters they will experience (Austin, 1978). Chance favors the inquisitive and venturesome, who go places, do things, and explore new activities. People also make chance work for them by cultivating their interests, enabling beliefs, and competencies (Bandura,1998).


Pasteur (1854) put it well when he noted that ‘‘chance favors only the prepared mind’’ (cited in Bartlett, 1992, p. 502)

In Toward a Psychology of Human Agency - Albert Bandura (2006)

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