According to Bandura, the idea that "capacity to exercise control over the nature and quality of one's life" is called:

A) personal causation
B) competence
C) reciprocal determinism
D) human agency

The idea that individuals have the capacity to exercise control over the nature and quality of their lives is known as human agency, which is the concept that Bandura emphasizes in his social cognitive theory. Personal causation (A) is related to the belief that individuals are the primary cause of their own behavior, while competence (B) refers to the belief in one's own capabilities to achieve success in particular situations. Reciprocal determinism (C) is the concept that behavior, environment, and personal factors interact and influence each other in complex ways. While these concepts are related to human agency, they do not capture the full essence of Bandura's idea that individuals have the power to shape their lives.