"…dopamine neurons reflect both the upcoming reward size and the confidence in achieving it… dopamine responses convey teaching signals…. Dopamine signals decision confidence prior to behavioral manifestation of choice." Lak, A., K. Nomoto, et al. (2017)

"Perceived Self-Efficacy: People's beliefs about their capabilities to produce effects…. People with high assurance in their capabilities approach difficult tasks as challenges to be mastered rather than as threats to be avoided.” Bandura, A. (1994)

A groove is the channel on a vinyl record where the needle goes. The needle may occasionally jump the groove when the record is scratched or dirty. Jumping the groove disrupts the flow of music and is usually experienced as jarring. The idiom “to be in the groove” means to be immersed in a particular task and thus working smoothly and efficiently.  To jump the groove in this sense is also disruptive, but this time the jump is an act of will (or an output of inputs that calls itself will). I am the little needle that could…maybe.

Jumping the groove from dopamine to self-efficacy: here we go!

Dopamine signals reward value and confidence in achieving a reward. Self-efficacy reflects confidence in achieving a reward through one's own behavior. In other words, self-efficacy is a type of self-confidence, specifically that one has what it takes (skills, knowledge, temperament, power) to achieve what one wants.

Just as our brains vary in their baseline dopamine levels, so people vary in their baseline self-efficacy, i.e., background confidence independent of domain-specific challenges (e.g., solving Sudoku puzzles, hobnobbing, mastering algebra). Beyond their baseline levels, both dopamine and self-efficacy rise and fall with anticipated success or failure. 

"I've got this," says the brain, "and it is good". "I've got this," says the person, "and I want it".

References:

Bandura, A. (1994). Self-efficacy. In V. S. Ramachaudran (Ed.), Encyclopedia of human behavior (Vol. 4, pp. 71-81). New York: Academic Press. (Reprinted in H. Friedman [Ed.], Encyclopedia of mental health. San Diego: Academic Press, 1998).

Lak, A., K. Nomoto, et al. (2017). "Midbrain Dopamine Neurons Signal Belief in Choice Accuracy during a Perceptual Decision." Current Biology 27(6): 821-832.