Bandura's Theory Of Self-Efficacy

The Basic notion of Self-Efficacy centers on: not what one hopes to do - or on what one says he/she will do, but on what one truly expects to do.

Confidence, in contrast, refers to firmness of belief, but not direction. I can be supremely confident that I will succeed at an endeavor (I will eventually win a tournament). Self-efficacy refers to the belief that one can execute given levels of performance (a more specific notion).

• whether a certain form of behavior is initiated (choice) - we avoid threatening situations - one's we do not think we can cope with (have skills).
• how much effort (intensity) will be expended - low efficacy often correlates to expending little effort?
• how long effort will be sustained (perseverance) in the face of obstacles and aversive experiences.

Bandura: self-efficacy predicts actual performance provided that necessary skills and appropriate incentives are present.

So, given the fact that I have the capability of running a mile in under 4 minutes, and that there is appropriate motivation for me to run as hard as I can, the belief in my ability to do so is a good predictor of whether or not I achieve this goal.

Remember, the component capabilities must be present as well as the incentives for performing.

Knowing that a particular response will result in a particular outcome, and (b) Believing that one has the capability of executing such a response.

For example:

• a basketball player may know that the correct response on receiving the ball at the top of the key with no one on them is a three-point shot, however, the performer may not attempt that response because of the perception that she cannot successfully execute the required shot (low efficacy expectations).
• a tennis player may know that the correct response for a lob is a smash (outcome expectancy), but the player does not attempt a smash because she does not believe she can successfully execute the required stroke (low efficacy expectations).

  Boris Becker vs. Ian Teriac:

  A number of years ago Ian Tiriac manager of Boris Becker basically threw up his hands and said that Becker was hopeless because he would not come to the net, even though all his observations had suggested that when he did, Boris was more successful than when he stayed back and played from the baseline. Why didn't Becker come to the net?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Squash Tournament example:

• * won the first game. My sense of efficacy and general confidence increased.
• * lost the next two games, and my sense of efficacy and confidence was significantly diminished.
• * Won fourth game, and my efficacy/confidence increased.
• * fifth game behind 12-8, but my efficacy/ confidence was high, and I wound up winning the game.

The emerging evidence indicates that the successful, the innovative, the sociable, the nonanxious, the nondespondent, and social reformers take an optimistic view of their personal efficacy to exercise influence over events that affect their lives (high N'Ach, Internals, Control).

Often despite external evidence to the contrary!!

John White "Rejection" -

"Decca Records turned down a recording contract with the Beatles with the nonprophetic evaluation, "We don't like their sound. Groups of guitars are on their way out." ....It takes a resilient sense of efficacy to override the numerous dissuading impediments to significant accomplishments.

This occurs in pursuits that are rigidly segregated by sex, race, age or some other factor (personality conflict). Under such circumstances, people in disfavored groups expect poor outcomes however efficacious they judge themselves to be. Here, no level of competence can produce desired outcomes (external attributions that may or may not be "real").

Disincentive to excel, despite the belief that one is capable? Examples?

People can exert some influence over their life paths by the environments they select and the environments they create. ...The stronger people's self beliefs in their capabilities, the more options they consider possible, the greater the interest they show in them, and the better they prepare themselves for different pursuits. (Nancy Lieberman et al.)

This can profoundly affect the direction of personal development, because the social influences operating in selected environments promote certain competencies, values, and interests.

Assuming that all of this is true, the question would be - How do we develop self-efficacy?

Successful performance is the most powerful means of developing self-efficacy.

Success increases our sense of mastery, failure lowers it - especially early in the course of events.

Once strong efficacy expectations are developed through a number of repeated successes, an occasional negative experience does not have as much of an effect on self-efficacy as when weak self-efficacy expectations already existed.

Also - failures overcome by sustained effort - strengthens self-efficacy greatly - since one learns that even the most difficult obstacles can be mastered by sustained effort (learning how to win?)

Creative coaches exercise control over the efficacy development process:

By adept structuring of mastery experiences (do not allow rookies to fail).

By creating styles of play that capitalize on their player's unique talents. ... utilizing existing talents productively and compensating for limitations can facilitate the cultivation of team efficacy (UMass 3 guard offense).

By creating perceived collective efficacy?

Scheduling of weaker teams early in a season; how else might this work?

The effects of causal attributions on performance attainments are mediated through self-efficacy beliefs rather than operate directly on performance.

Successes are more likely to enhance self-efficacy if performances are perceived as resulting from skill than from fortuitous factors. Conversely, failures would be expected to produce greater reductions in self-efficacy when attributed to ability rather than to unusual situational circumstances.

Goal Setting and Self-efficacy: (Edwin Moses, Olympic Great, was the quintessential goal setter)

Goal Setting allegedly provides direction and intensity to behavior, and an awareness that one is capable of performing certain skills (if goals are achieved) - Behavioral accomplishment is the strongest means for acquiring self-efficacy.

Bandura argues that most of our learned behaviors are modeled.If an individual sees others doing something they may persuade themselves that they can do it to.

What factors affect modeling and the development of self-efficacy?

Skill level, similarity, many models, process of overcoming difficulty?

Imagery is a form of vicarious experience.

People can be led into believing that they can cope successfully with what has overwhelmed them in the past (by others or themselves).

Weaker than successful performance since individuals do not have an authentic experiential base to believe in their own self-efficacy.

Here, it is important not only to persuade one of their efficacy, but to provide the conditions which will facilitate effective performance.

Development of self-talk strategies.

Physiological States - we judge our own self-efficacy by how we perceive our anxiety level in different situations.

Anxiety, arousal, and avoidant behavior are largely coeffects of perceived coping inefficacy. People avoid potentially threatening situations and activities, not because they experience anxiety arousal or anticipate they will be anxious, but because they believe they will be unable to cope successfully with situations they regard as risky.

Suggests: need to develop effective coping strategies - stress reduction techniques (cognitive and physical), use of various kinds of imagery, biofeedback, massage) - to develop belief that one has arsenal of coping strategies.