Every one of us has probably tried once in our lives to push ourselves to listen to a tedious lecture and, by some miracle, you would have comprehended the material. It appears to be a miracle, but it is actually self-efficacy. You’ve obviously heard the term “self-efficacy,” but it may not mean what you think it does.
Self-efficacy is the belief in our own talents, especially our capacity to meet the obstacles ahead of us and effectively accomplish a task. General self-efficacy refers to our general belief in our capacity to achieve, although there are several more types of self-efficacy (e.g., academic, parenting, sports).
IS IT SIMILAR TO MOTIVATION?
It might sound similar to motivation but they are not the same although they are deeply entwined. Self-efficacy is based on an individual’s belief in their own capacity to achieve, while motivation is based on the individual’s desire to achieve.
IS IT CONFIDENCE?
They are related but still different. According to Bandura
“ Confidence is a nondescript term that refers to the strength of belief but does not necessarily specify what the certainty is about… Perceived self-efficacy refers to belief in one’s agentive capabilities, that one can produce given levels of attainment”
SELF-EFFICACY IN PSYCHOLOGY
The term “self-efficacy” is not used nearly as often in pop culture as self-esteem, confidence, self-worth, etc., but it is a well-known concept in psychology.
Albert Bandura’s study spawned the psychological idea of self-efficacy. He identified a process that played a significant influence in people’s lives but had not been characterised or thoroughly examined up to that time.
This mechanism was people’s faith in their power to control the circumstances of their own life. He proposed that self-efficacy is a self-sustaining trait; when a person is motivated to solve the problems on his own, they get satisfying experiences that in turn increase their self-efficacy.
SELF-EFFICACY IN INCREASING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCES OF STUDENTS.
For students who struggle with reading, self-efficacy is both an outcome and a key to their continued success. By giving students the opportunity to experience small wins, celebrating even the little successes, manifesting motivation and hard work, and offering verbal encouragement, teachers can help their students build the self-efficacy that will serve them throughout their academic careers and beyond.
To put it succinctly, the take-home lesson of this work is that you can do it. Remind yourself that you can do anything if you already have a strong conviction in your ability. If you’re unsure about your ability to succeed, reassure yourself that you can. If you’re certain that you won’t be able to attain your objective or conquer the hurdle in your path, give yourself a firm but encouraging pep talk (“You can do it!”).
Hoping to have boosted your self-efficacy, congratulating you on your next success!
They are able who think they are able. – Virgil
