How Self-Efficacy Affects You!
If you are concerned about your lack of self confidence you should make yourself aware of a term called: Self-Efficacy. It is a little used term, and most people do not know the actual meaning of it. But by understanding this term in regards to social cognitive theory you can use this information to help build your self confidence.
Self efficacy is defined as a beleif that you are capable of doing things in a certain manner to reach your goals. Basically you beleive that you can get things done. This is different from efficacy (or competence) where it is a fact that there is a power to produce an effect.
Self efficacy is basically a belief, either right or wrong that you can achieve certain tasks.
A person with high self efficacy is less likely to harbor feelings of hoplessness and more likely to do tasks to improve a situation.
Self Esteem vs. Self Efficacy
Self esteem is a person’s sense of self worth, where as self efficacy is your perception of your ability to reach a goal.
Goals
Your level of self efficacy plays a huge role in how you approach your goals and challenges in life.
Psychologist Albert Bandura’s social cognitive theory basically states that those who think they can perform well are more likely to view difficult tasks as things to be mastered rather than things to be avoided.
How Self Efficacy Affects You
Behavior: People with high self efficacy will more likely take on challenging tasks whereas low self efficacy people will only attempt easy tasks, therefore limiting their ability to grow.
Motivation: People with high self efficacy are more likely to last longer and make more of an effort.
Thoughts and Responses: Low self efficacy people believe tasks are harder than they actually are, and then only blame internal factors for failure, when some external factors may have been at play.
Health Behaviors: People with high self efficacy are more likely to use seat belts, not smoke, exercise, diet, use condoms, and have good dental hygiene.
Destiny: People with high self efficacy think they are in control of their destiny and they can control it by their actions.
4 Factors That Affect Self Efficacy
- Experience (success raises it)
- Modeling (if you see others succeeding you can to)
- Social Persuasions (how other people’s comments affect you)
- Physiological Factors (’butterflies in the stomach’ is viewed either positively or negatively)
