- 01/12/2012
- Posted by: essay
- Category: Free essays
Self-efficacy is the belief in the effectiveness of self actions and the expectation of success of their implementation. General self-efficacy consists of different self-efficacy parts, existing in various fields of human activity.
Studies have shown that another reason for breaches of conduct may be a lack of faith in the effectiveness of self actions. This is often called the “theory of self-efficacy”. Self-efficacy, or belief in the efficacy, means the belief in the rights that a difficult situation a person will be able to demonstrate a successful behavior. So, the faith in the effectiveness means the estimation of person’s own very specific descriptions of behavioral competence.
An essential characteristic of many mental illnesses is a lack of confidence in person’s self behavioral abilities and the ability to experience. Many diseases are accompanied by an underestimation or an incorrect assessment of self abilities and behavioral skills (Prescott 2006).
So, whether a particular person is able in a given situation to achieve success depends not only from his own competence, but also from a number of other factors. However, for mental health and wellbeing not only the results themselves are important, but their interpretation made by the individual and the expectations of success, positive results of self actions.
Our Self-efficacy and self-confidence strongly affects our behavior and the outcome of many situations. I remember my friend Katy, who did not believe in her appeal to young men and her self-efficacy in dating. She believed that man didn’t pay attention on her. So to all the parties, where she went, she came in a bad mood, spoiled the mood of people around by her gloomy view. Her attempt to get acquainted with someone was almost always failed. She was always upset because of the negative effects of dating attempts, and that fact was even more reducing her self-efficacy.
Understanding that situation with my friend, I came to some conclusions. Now my self-efficacy is high, and to all parties I go in a good mood, expecting fun pastime. In this case, my attempt of dating often gets a positive development, which in later strengthens my self-efficacy in dating and makes my communication with people easier.
There was also a situation in my life that made me think about self-esteem and self-concept. Couple years ago I spent the evening with my cousin, who was five years old. And during the dinner she told me; “I am fat and ugly.” I was in shock. At her age, when she was only five years old, she was already cutting herself down and underestimating herself. It is known that physical appearance is the strongest correlate of global, worldwide self-worth in early childhood and adolescence period.
From that time I know that children who are of the same age as my cousin have a hard time defining and understanding their sense of self. I am sure that television, newspapers, books, the internet and magazines make young people have a lower self-esteem, as they feel they are not so good looking as the heroes, characters of the TV shows they watch.
So, self-concept, self-esteem, and self-efficacy are very important in our life. Self-concept is a system of representations of a person about himself, the realizable part of the personality, self-image. These notions about the self are deliberate and rather stabile. People’s understanding of self makes people believe to be capable, significant, successful, and worthy.
Work Cited
Allen, Richard L. (2001). The concept of self: a study of black identity and self-esteem Pp.47-48.
Kuhatschek, Jack. (2001). Self-Esteem Pp. 36-37.
Mruk, Christopher J. (2006). Self-esteem research, theory, and practice: toward a positive psychology of self-esteem. Pp. 111-112.
Pfeiffer, Richard. (2002). Self-Esteem. Pp. 76-77.
Prescott, Anne P. (2006). The concept of self in education, family, and sports. Pp. 213-214.
Wylie, Ruth C. (1989). Measures of self-concept. Pp. 112-113.
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