Part 3: Self-efficacy - Faith moves mountains

The term self-efficacy is not particularly common, but believe me when I tell you that it is one of the most influential factors in self-regulation and behavioral output.

I only came across the word "self-efficacy" during my psychology studies and initially didn't know exactly what to make of it when books kept emphasizing its importance. However, I now know exactly what lies behind it and can more than attest to its relevance for a happy, successful life.

The term was created and coined by psychologist Albert Bandura. He defines self-efficacy as "the belief that a desired outcome can be achieved through one's own actions." This all sounds very theoretical at first. Let's decode it together.

The word "belief" in particular was very confusing to me. Is it enough to just "believe" it, or do I really have to "know" that I can manage what I want to achieve?

You might laugh, but it is indeed enough to just "believe" it. And that is the crux of the matter. It refers not to a factually existing skill, but rather to the personal perception of what can be achieved with one's own abilities. Do I myself believe it to be true that I can do it?

But what does this "belief" do to us? What are the benefits of self-efficacy? And why should it be of interest to raise a self-efficacious child?

The higher one's perceived self-efficacy, the more persistently we pursue our goals... and this despite potential difficulties. Because self-efficacious people tend to see challenges and opportunities instead of problems and obstacles. They are much more motivated to achieve their goals. Furthermore, it also has a positive influence on which actions and goals are chosen in the first place and what efforts are made to achieve them. That sounds great, don't you think!

I would like to tell you a story from my personal experience about this.

My son was convinced that he couldn't ride a bike without training wheels. "Mom, I definitely can't do it," he kept saying to me, and he didn't even want to really try. I always held the saddle firmly and securely and tried to encourage him and motivate him... nothing helped. All half-hearted attempts failed after a few meters. However, this changed abruptly when I told him after another lackluster attempt that he had actually been able to ride a bike for a long time and that I hadn't even been holding him the last few times.

I will never forget the look on his face... bewildered, skeptical, but at the same time hopeful! And I'm telling you, he went to his bike without a word, got on, and rode off... all the way down the street! He turned around, wobbled back to me without falling, and his eyes were shining with pride... and self-efficacy!!

Admittedly, it isn't always as easy as in this story to instill self-efficacy in your children. But convincing words of encouragement can work wonders!

Are there other ways to attain self-efficacy? Yes!

According to scientific findings, there are 4 sources of self-efficacy.

1. The most effective way to strengthen self-efficacy is through personal experience, i.e., through a success in action that can be attributed to one's own competence. Mastering a situation through one's own efforts gives one the certainty that one can master the same or similar situations again.

2. The second important source of self-efficacy is vicarious success through others. This refers to the observation of successful models. If your child, for example, watches you achieving your goals, this can also strengthen their belief in their own abilities and provide strategies for implementing their own goals. The greater the similarity between the observer and the model and the more similar the goals, the more beneficial it is for self-efficacy.

3. The third source is persuasive messages, i.e., verbal encouragement, as was the case in the bike-riding story. You reinforce the child's belief that they possess the skills and reduce self-doubt.

4. While the first three sources represent ways to promote self-efficacy, the fourth source consists of reducing physical stress. Stress reactions and emotional tension are often interpreted as signs of loss of control and ineffectiveness. A high level of arousal therefore has a negative effect on self-efficacy and performance. This needs to be reduced and a feeling of relaxation established in order to keep self-efficacy high.

The good thing is that self-efficacy is not innate. It begins to develop very early in childhood, but it can be changed/increased throughout one's life. And it is worth working on. Self-efficacy brings many life-simplifying benefits. As parents, we can support our children by letting them have their own experiences, being good role models, encouraging them, and creating a stress-free environment. Believe in your child!

I believe in you that you can do it!

All the best,
your Martina from LIONHERZ <3