Self-efficacy, which is more commonly known as confidence, is the most enabling psychology models that have ever existed in positive psychology. This model gives us an optimistic self-belief in our skills and ability to accomplish a task successfully with a favorable outcome. Henry Ford pushes on the importance of self-efficacy when he states that ‘ whether you believe you can or you can’t, you are right.’ So, where do we get this self-efficacy from and how can we boost it? Albert Bandura is the originator of the self-efficacy theory, and he outlines four sources of the same:
Mastery Experiences
According to Bandura, nothing builds our self-efficacy more than being successful at a certain task, be it controlling an environment or mastering a task. Self-efficacy, therefore, requires an experience where we overcome an obstacle through perseverance and effort.
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Remote Experiences
Self-efficacy is also drawn from observing the people that we look up to. If we see these people succeed, then we also gain the confidence that we can also succeed in that area.
Verbal Conviction
People that we hold high in our lives can strengthen our beliefs and our self-efficacy, making us believe that we can make accomplish something.
Psychological and Emotional States
Our current state greatly determines our self-efficacy. If we are cheerful, then our self-efficacy is likely to be high, and vice versa when we are depressed.
Imaginal Experiences
According to James Maddux, it is possible to build our self-efficacy if we can imagine ourselves successful or effective in a certain situation.
The self-efficacy scale incorporates both reliability and validity. According to Albert Bandura, the degree to which you believe in your self-efficacy affects your functioning in various categories as discussed in the self-efficacy scale. Each of these stages of the scale is only valid and reliable as far as the individual believes in their self-efficacy, and their ability to control it.
Cognitive – Thinking in optimistic or pessimistic ways has the potential to affect our functioning greatly. The belief that our actions can affect our experience and environment makes it possible for us to view life from an optimistic, self-sustaining view. It is important to note that regardless of the situation, it is always possible to change the outcome.
Motivational –It is possible for someone to overcome obstacles, or become their victim depending on how they interpret the obstacles and available opportunities. With the proper motivation and skills, then it is possible to view an obstacle as something that we can overcome. Self-efficacy depends on believing in motivation to believe that you can influence an outcome.
Emotional – A strong self-efficacy understands that it is human and normal for one to feel discouraged at some point, but we should not let this emotional feeling drag us down.
Decisional – Self-efficacy holds that we always have a choice when it comes to how we experience our lives and any situations that we go through. Through self-efficacy, it is possible for an individual to choose the environment that best suits their growth and development.
Bandura challenges us to look at modern cynicism from a different angle. He insists that through mastering our decisions, emotions, motivations, and thoughts, with the examples and guidance of our role models, then we will realize that we have the power to shape the world. Living a life without self-efficacy tends to narrow our scope when facing the obstacles of life, which could leave us confused at some point.
References
Bandura, A. (2006). Guide for constructing self-efficacy scales. Self-efficacy beliefs of adolescents , 5 (1), 307-337.
Bandura, A. (1993). Perceived self-efficacy in cognitive development and functioning. Educational Psychologist , 28 (2), 117-148.
Bandura, A. (1977). Self-efficacy: toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychological Review , 84 (2), 191.
Bandura, A. (1982). Self-efficacy mechanism in human agency. American Psychologist , 37 (2), 122.
