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 variables in self-regulation and behavior production.

I first encountered the term "self-efficacy" during my psychology studies, and at first I wasn't sure what exactly I meant by it, especially since the books repeatedly emphasized its importance. However, I now know very well what it means and can more than confirm 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 one's own actions can achieve a desired outcome." This all sounds very theoretical at first. Let's decipher it together.

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

You'll laugh, but it's actually enough to just "believe" it. And that's the crux of the matter. It doesn't refer to a factually existing ability, but rather to a personal perception of what can be achieved with one's own abilities. Do I personally believe 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-efficacy child?

The higher our perceived self-efficacy, the more persistently we pursue our goals... despite potential difficulties. Self-efficacy tends to see challenges and opportunities instead of problems and obstacles. They are much more motivated to achieve their goals. And it also has a positive influence on which actions and goals are chosen and the effort put into achieving them. That sounds great, doesn't it?

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

My son was convinced he couldn't ride a bike without training wheels. "Mom, I definitely can't do this," he told me over and over again, and he didn't even want to try. I always held him firmly and securely by the saddle and tried to encourage and motivate him... nothing worked. All half-hearted attempts failed after a few meters. This changed abruptly, however, when, after another lackluster attempt, I told him that he'd been able to ride a bike for a long time and that I hadn't even held him the last few times. I'll never forget his look... bewildered, skeptical, but simultaneously hopeful! And let me tell you, he walked to his bike without a word, got on, and rode off... all the way down the playground! He turned around, cycled back to me, wobbly but not falling, and his eyes shone with pride... and self-efficacy!!

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

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

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

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

2. The second important source of self-efficacy is vicarious action success

in others. This refers to the observation of successful models . For example, if your child watches you achieve your goals, this can strengthen their belief in their own abilities and provide strategies for achieving their own goals. The greater the similarity between observer and model, and the more similar the goals, the more conducive to self-efficacy.

3. The third source is persuasive messages, i.e., verbal persuasion, as was the case in the cycling story. This reinforces the child's ability and reduces self-doubt.

4. While the first three sources represent opportunities to increase self-efficacy

The fourth source of stimulation is to reduce 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 must be reduced and a sense of relaxation created in order to maintain high self-efficacy.

The good news is that self-efficacy isn't innate. It begins to develop very early in childhood, but can be changed and enhanced throughout life. And it's worth working on. Self-efficacy brings with it many life-enhancing benefits. As parents, we can support our children by letting them have their own experiences, setting 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