Self-efficacy is the belief you have in your ability to achieve a goal (it works together with Growth Mindset).
People who experience high levels of self-efficacy believe what they do can make a difference.
Unfortunately, people who experience low levels of self-efficacy do not believe what they do makes any difference.
For example, a person with high self-efficacy towards mathematics sees it as a source of challenge, which they can master through practice over time (Growth Mindset). They prepare for a maths exam to increase their chances of success. If they do well, they feel a sense of achievement in their work. If they don’t do as well as they had hoped, they will work harder (and smarter) to get a better result in their next exam.
A person with low self-efficacy towards mathematics may see it as being overwhelming and beyond their ability to master. They don’t prepare for a maths exam because they don’t believe it would make any difference (Fixed Mindset). If they do well, they see it as being just plain lucky, and doubt they could ever do it again. If they don’t do well, it reinforces their low level of self-efficacy towards mathematics. They may make excuses for their performance, or may even cheat in an exam to avoid looking bad.
Rate the following examples of self-efficacy as either high or low.
Jim has a group of friends who like to play volleyball on the weekends. They are always asking Jim to join them, but he finds excuses not to play – even though he would like to spend time with them.
Anne loves to play the guitar and sing. She enters talent quests whenever she gets the opportunity to perform. Anne also busks at the local shops a few times each year.
Ruth has always wanted to learn how to surf, but doesn’t want to paddle out with other surfers in case she looks like she has no idea what she is doing.
Alex loves the outdoors and organises with her family to go on bushwalks whenever they have time and the weather is good.
A person’s level of self-efficacy can change depending upon their challenge. For example, a person may have high self-efficacy regarding their schoolwork, but low self-efficacy regarding participating in sport.
Self-efficacy is not a constant – it’s always changing. You can build your self-efficacy by:
- being kind to yourself
- putting things into perspective
- using your personal strengths
- doing things you like
- positive self-talk
- setting goals
Discuss the concept that self-efficacy is influenced by how we think and what we do – it is not a constant.
Everybody experiences low self-efficacy at different times. The challenge is not to accept that it always has to be this way – if you notice it, you can change it.
On a scale of 1-10 – how would you rate your level of self-efficacy?
How could you to increase your level of self-efficacy?