Psychology A3 - self-efficacy

Question 1

theories of stress and addiction:
self- efficacy

Answer 1

-self-efficacy = our motivation to change behaviour, ‘self-belief’
-high self-efficacy = believe they will be successful and have more motivation

Question 2

Bandura (1977)

Answer 2

-created studies on self-efficacy

Question 3

1. mastery influences

Answer 3

-experience of mastering tasks successfully, get practice and learn how to improve skills
-experiences leads to knowledge that we can preform well again
-increases self-efficacy, most important source

Question 4

2. vicarious influences

Answer 4

-learn best when observing a role mode - increase self-efficacy if role model is successful in task - stronger if they identify with model (increase)
-example, programmes (weight watchers), good vicarious reinforcers- others in same position reach similar goals

Question 5

3. social persuasion influences

Answer 5

-encourages/discouragement = big effect on self-efficacy
-persuasive phrases
-reaffirming success
-depends on perceived credibility
-less influential than other influences
-easy to provide

Question 6

4. emotional influences

Answer 6

-influenced by emotional states:
-> stress, anxiety = reducing
-> relaxed, chill = increasing
-example, new gym, expect to fail, good trainer removes emotional barriers and improves self-efficacy

Question 7

practical strategies
(evaluation)

Answer 7

-practical strategies to change behaviour
-example, mastery experiences achieved by breaking one challenge into several ones
-relaxation training –> reduce anxiety, improve self-efficacy

Question 8

defining problems
(evaluation)

Answer 8

-variations of definitions of self-efficacy
-confused with self-esteem or self- confidence – research not looking at effect of self-efficacy at all
-questionnaire = unclear, open to interpretation, reduces self-efficacy validity

Question 9

assumptions - Vancouver et al. (2002)
(evaluation)

Answer 9

-bandura assumes high self-efficacy = always positive (not the case)
-Vancouver - positive social persuasion increases or decreases performance, self-efficacy may decrease performance
-model = flawed, cannot predict negative outcomes