Defining Self-Efficacy

Sports Psychology – Self-Efficacy

In this course, Dr Jamie Barker (Loughborough University) explores self-efficacy in the context of sport and exercise performance. In the first lecture, we think about how self-efficacy and self-confidence are defined and differentiated. In the second lecture, we think about Bandura’s four sources of self-efficacy: past success, vicarious experiences, verbal persuasion, and emotional state. In the third lecture, we think about some of the key benefits of a high level of self-efficacy on sporting performance. Next, we think about some techniques for developing self-efficacy, including imagery and hypnosis. In the fifth and final lecture, we think about how self-efficacy and arrogance can be differentiated.

Defining Self-Efficacy

In this lecture, we think about what self-efficacy and self-confidence and sport are, focusing in particular on: (i) the common desire amongst athletes to have greater self-confidence; (ii) the tendency for athletes to attribute their success to their self-belief; (iii) differentiating self-confidence and self-efficacy, with the latter being task-specific and the former more generalised; (iv) Bandura’s 1986 definition of perceived self-efficacy; (v) self-efficacy underpinning personal agency, such that those with high self-efficacy are more likely to be motivated towards those specific tasks as they believe they can be successful.