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examBoard: AQA
examType: GCSE
lessonTitle: Self-efficacy Beliefs
Have you ever thought "I can't do this" before even trying something new? Or maybe you've felt super confident about acing a test? These thoughts reflect your self-efficacy beliefs - one of the most important psychological factors that influence how we develop and learn throughout our lives.
Key Definitions:
Self-efficacy isn't just about feeling good about yourself. It actually shapes:
Don't confuse these two concepts:
You might have high self-efficacy for maths but low self-efficacy for public speaking. Self-efficacy is task-specific!
Albert Bandura, a Canadian-American psychologist, developed the concept of self-efficacy as part of his Social Cognitive Theory. Bandura believed that people's beliefs about their abilities have a stronger influence on their behaviour than their actual abilities.
Bandura is considered one of the most influential psychologists of all time. His work on self-efficacy began in the 1970s and has been applied to education, health, sports, business and many other fields. He demonstrated that our beliefs about our capabilities are often better predictors of our performance than our actual abilities!
According to Bandura, we develop our self-efficacy beliefs from four main sources:
Successfully performing a task strengthens our belief in our ability. This is the most powerful source of self-efficacy.
Example: Getting a good mark on a maths test increases your belief that you can do well in maths.
Seeing others similar to ourselves succeed raises our belief that we can also succeed.
Example: Watching a classmate with similar abilities learn to code makes you believe you can learn too.
Encouragement from others helps us believe we have the skills and capabilities to succeed.
Example: A teacher telling you that you have what it takes to pass your GCSEs boosts your confidence.
How we feel physically and emotionally affects how we judge our capabilities.
Example: Feeling anxious before a presentation might lower your belief in your ability to speak well. Learning to manage this anxiety can improve your self-efficacy.
Self-efficacy has profound effects on how we develop throughout our lives, influencing our choices, motivation and achievements.
Students with high self-efficacy for learning:
A study by Zimmerman et al. (1992) found that students' self-efficacy beliefs about their ability to regulate their learning predicted their academic achievement. Students who believed they could effectively manage their learning processes earned higher grades than those with lower self-efficacy, even when controlling for previous achievement and cognitive ability.
This shows that believing in your ability to learn can be just as important as your actual ability!
Self-efficacy plays a crucial role in career choices and development:
Self-efficacy affects our health behaviours and psychological wellbeing:
The good news is that self-efficacy beliefs can be developed and strengthened. Here are some evidence-based strategies:
Break large tasks into smaller, manageable steps. Each small success builds your confidence.
Example: Instead of "I'll revise all of Biology this weekend," try "I'll master one topic each day."
Learn and practice effective study techniques that work for you. Knowing how to learn effectively increases your confidence in your ability to learn.
Example: Using flashcards, practice tests, or teaching concepts to others.
Celebrate improvements and recognize that skills develop over time. Compare yourself to your past performance, not to others.
Example: "I understand more of this topic than I did last week" rather than "I'm not as good as Sarah at this."
Replace negative thoughts ("I can't do this") with more constructive ones ("This is challenging, but I can learn with practice").
Example: Instead of "I'm rubbish at maths," try "I'm still learning this concept and need more practice."
Remember that self-efficacy is domain-specific. You might have:
Carol Dweck's research on mindsets complements Bandura's work on self-efficacy. People with a "growth mindset" believe abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. This belief creates a love of learning and resilience that is essential for great accomplishment. Having a growth mindset can help build self-efficacy because it encourages you to view challenges as opportunities to grow rather than as threats to your self-worth.
Self-efficacy beliefs are powerful influences on how we develop and learn. They affect:
By understanding how self-efficacy works and actively working to build it, you can enhance your learning, performance and development across all areas of your life.
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