We use four factors to determine our self-efficacy and, in turn, our performance for a task.
1. Experience
Experience refers to past experience of completing similar tasks. This is the most important factor in self-efficacy.
If a person has performed a similar task well in the past, they are more likely to feel confident about completing similar tasks successfully in the future.
2. Vicarious Experience
Self-efficacy can be developed by watching other people perform a task.
If a person observes someone similar to them succeed at a task, their self-efficacy increases. Conversely, seeing someone similar fail at a task can negatively affect self-efficacy.
3. Social Persuasion
Self-efficacy can increase when others provide encouragement and express confidence in a person’s ability to perform a task.
Similarly, discouraging or negative remarks about one’s ability can decrease self-efficacy.
4. Physiological Feedback
When confronted with a task, individuals experience physical sensations.
How these sensations are interpreted affects self-efficacy. For example, before giving a presentation, a person may experience butterflies in the stomach.
Disadvantages of High Self-Efficacy
Most people benefit from increased self-efficacy, especially for tasks they find challenging. However, very high self-efficacy can have disadvantages.
These include:
Conclusion
The Self-Efficacy Theory of Motivation explains how belief in one’s abilities influences motivation and performance.
Studies show that self-efficacy is a strong predictor of high performance. Increasing self-efficacy—either individually or within teams—can raise confidence and performance levels.
Higher self-efficacy leads to:
People with strong self-efficacy are more likely to set challenging goals and put in the effort required to achieve them.
In short, Self-Efficacy Theory emphasizes that believing in one’s abilities is crucial for motivation and success in various tasks and challenges.