Self-efficacy

A Venn diagram showing the relationship between self-concept, self-efficacy, and self-esteem.

"Self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in his or her capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments (Bandura, 1977, 1986, 1997). Self-efficacy reflects confidence in the ability to exert control over one's own motivation, behavior, and social environment." See also: Agency (psychology) and Interpersonal skills and Social intelligence

According to La Trobe University: "Psychologists have found that if a person has lower levels of self-efficacy they are more likely to focus on feelings of failure rather than success. People with higher levels of self-efficacy are more likely to cope better in adverse situations (Park and Folkman, 1997)."

A person's self-efficacy is related to their self-concept which is the image a person has of themselves.

Visualization and confidence building

See also: Visualization (psychology) and Confidence and Courage

In psychology, visualization is the process of creating mental images or rehearsing movements in your mind. It's also known as mental imagery.

Visualization is often used in sport psychology where the athlete mentally rehearses a perfect performance. Research indicates that people who engage in positive visualization tend to exhibit higher levels of self-confidence and they are more apt to pursue their goals with determination. Visualization is also used for stress management and anxiety reduction.

How self-efficacy changes self-identity

See also: Identity (psychology) and Skill and Interpersonal skills and Communication skills and Emotional intelligence

As far as self-identity, Adams and Marshall (1996) established that identity formation provides five functions:

1. A structure and order to self-knowledge. (Self-knowledge: Understanding your one's emotions, desires, abilities, and limitations). See: Self-concept and Self-awareness and Self-efficacy and Skill

2. A sense of consistency and coherence to beliefs, goals, and self-knowledge

3. A sense of continuity for one’s history and future

4. Goals and direction

5. A sense of personal control of their choices and outcomes. See: Agency (psychology) and Will (psychology)

Self-efficacy significantly affects self-identity by influencing how a person perceives their capabilities and competence in various areas of life which shapes their overall self-image and determine the type and difficulty of the goals they set for themselves. This strongly influences to how they see themselves as a person. A strong sense of self-efficacy can cause a more positive self-identity, whereas low self-efficacy can result in a more negative self-perception.

Core self-evaluations and self-efficacy

See also: Core self-evaluations

Core self-evaluations (CSE) is a psychological "theory that includes four personality dimensions: self-esteem, self-efficacy, locus of control" and neuroticism. "Core self-evaluations are instinctive judgments that we all make about ourselves and our lives."

Journal articles

• Thinking about self-efficacy. Behavior Modification. 2000 Jan;24(1):30-56. doi: 10.1177/0145445500241002.
• The Effects of Self-Efficacy and Locus of Control on Cyberbully/Victim Status in Adolescents. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2021 Nov-Dec:61:e15-e21. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2021.04.004. Epub 2021 Apr 21.

Related quotes

"Confidence makes one’s peak performance possible, and that’s why it’s of such great importance to anyone who has to step into an arena and deliver their best." - The Confident Mind: A Battle-Tested Guide to Unshakable Performance by Dr. Nate Zinsser. Custom House (January 25, 2022)

"When it comes to confidence, however, logic isn’t always helpful. Logic dictates that the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior, that the team or opponent that beat you last time will do it again, that the job task that has always been troublesome will continue to be so. If strict logic was indeed the answer to everything and had always been followed, the Wright brothers would have never gotten off the ground, and Roger Bannister would never have broken four minutes in the mile run. Being “logical” closes us off from creativity, joy, and the discovery of anything new, precisely those things that give our lives the greatest meaning." -The Confident Mind: A Battle-Tested Guide to Unshakable Performance by Dr. Nate Zinsser. Custom House (January 25, 2022)

See also

• Psychological capital
• Problem solving
• Self-control
• Habits
• Emotional intelligence
• Self-regulation
• Self-management
• Self-awareness
• Jonah complex
• Goal setting
• Grit (personality trait)
• Mental toughness
• Psychological resilience
• Self-doubt
• Achievement orientation

Other related concepts:

• Prioritization
• Time management
• Concentration
• Organizational skills
• Communication skills
• Planning skills
• Project management

External links

• Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory Of Motivation In Psychology, SimplePsychology.org
• Why self-efficacy matters
• Building a Culture of Self-Efficacy, Harvard Graduate School of Education
• How to Build Self-Confidence/efficacy
• What is self-efficacy, WebMD
• What is self-efficacy? Definition and 7 ways to improve it
• Self-efficacy, Carlton College
• Improving Self-Efficacy and Motivation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Self-efficacy, ScienceDirect
• Boost Your Confidence With These 6 Expert Tips, Forbes

Videos:

• Self-efficacy - Video playlist