Self Confidence, Self Confidence, Participation and Self-Participation and Self-

Esteem…Esteem…

Mr. P. LeightonMr. P. Leighton

Mental Preparation for SportMental Preparation for Sport

Sports PsychologySports Psychology

Today’s Session…Today’s Session…

Understand the relationship between Understand the relationship between SELF-CONFIDENCE and SELF-SELF-CONFIDENCE and SELF-EFFICACY.EFFICACY.

Develop our understanding by using the Develop our understanding by using the SELF-EFFICACY THEORY.SELF-EFFICACY THEORY.

So what is SELF-CONFIDENCE?So what is SELF-CONFIDENCE?

Self-Confidence appears throughout both Self-Confidence appears throughout both Sports Psychology and our own lives.Sports Psychology and our own lives.What other SELF terms do you know?What other SELF terms do you know?SELF-ESTEEM?SELF-ESTEEM?Self esteem refers to a consistent degree Self esteem refers to a consistent degree of confidence that a person displays of confidence that a person displays across a wide range of situations…across a wide range of situations…Self Confidence is therefore a state which Self Confidence is therefore a state which is global and stable.is global and stable.

Self Confidence and Participation…Self Confidence and Participation…

Self Confidence influences Self Confidence influences motivation and therefore the motivation and therefore the duration of participation.duration of participation.Bandura (1977) proposed Bandura (1977) proposed that as participants become that as participants become more competent in specific more competent in specific skills they develop positive skills they develop positive self belief. self belief. Basically- the more you do Basically- the more you do something the better you feel something the better you feel about it and the more about it and the more confident you get!confident you get!

Self-Efficacy…Self-Efficacy…

Self-Efficacy is a specific type of self Self-Efficacy is a specific type of self confidence.confidence.

It relates to a persons perception of their It relates to a persons perception of their own standard of abilities.own standard of abilities.

It is, however, unstable and can be It is, however, unstable and can be changed through different means.changed through different means.

Self-Efficacy in Sport…Self-Efficacy in Sport…

Leon MacDonald: All Blacks International…Leon MacDonald: All Blacks International…

High Self-efficacy in most of his game…High Self-efficacy in most of his game…

Low self-efficacy in goal kicking- avoidance of Low self-efficacy in goal kicking- avoidance of this area.this area.

Continued…Continued…Bandura stated that people with HIGH self-Bandura stated that people with HIGH self-efficacy tend to adopt APPROACH behaviours, efficacy tend to adopt APPROACH behaviours, seek challenges and persevere with tasks. seek challenges and persevere with tasks.

They also ATTRIBUTE success to their internal They also ATTRIBUTE success to their internal factors that relate directly to themselves i.e. factors that relate directly to themselves i.e. ABILITY and EFFORT.ABILITY and EFFORT.

This elevates confidence and increases This elevates confidence and increases expectations of success. expectations of success.

Self efficacy can, therefore, exert a powerful Self efficacy can, therefore, exert a powerful influence on performance by raising influence on performance by raising expectations on success…expectations on success…

Stuart Broad…Stuart Broad…

Originally just a bowler…Originally just a bowler…Began to get success with the bat- began to bat Began to get success with the bat- began to bat further up the order…further up the order…Is now considered the next “Garfield Sobers” Is now considered the next “Garfield Sobers” and rival to Andrew Flintoff as an all rounder.and rival to Andrew Flintoff as an all rounder.

Low Self Efficacy…Low Self Efficacy…

These performers tend to adopt AVOIDANCE These performers tend to adopt AVOIDANCE behaviours.behaviours.

They give up easily and become anxious when They give up easily and become anxious when things become difficult.things become difficult.

They also tend to attribute failure to INTERNAL They also tend to attribute failure to INTERNAL factors- basically their own shortcomings.factors- basically their own shortcomings.

This would introduce LEARNED This would introduce LEARNED HELPLESSNESS.HELPLESSNESS.

Self-Efficacy Theory…Self-Efficacy Theory…Levels of self-efficacy determine efficacy expectations Levels of self-efficacy determine efficacy expectations which directly influence the choice an individual makes which directly influence the choice an individual makes regarding sporting activities.regarding sporting activities.

Efficacy then, is influenced by 4 sub-processes which a Efficacy then, is influenced by 4 sub-processes which a coach can use to turn negatives into positives and lead to coach can use to turn negatives into positives and lead to desired ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE. desired ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE.

EfficacyExpectations

Performance Accomplishments

Vicarious Experiences

Verbal Persuasion

Control ofArousal

Performance Accomplishments…Performance Accomplishments…

A performer who experiences LEARNED A performer who experiences LEARNED HELPLESSNESS or a loss of confidence HELPLESSNESS or a loss of confidence should be reminded of previous successes should be reminded of previous successes in the skill or situation.in the skill or situation.Reinforcement of past attainments has the Reinforcement of past attainments has the most powerful effects upon self-efficacy… most powerful effects upon self-efficacy… Why? Why? Based on PERSONAL MASTERY Based on PERSONAL MASTERY EXPERIENCES.EXPERIENCES.

Vicarious Experiences…Vicarious Experiences…

Involves the person who lacks confidence Involves the person who lacks confidence watching others of equal ablility perform watching others of equal ablility perform the problematic skill successfully.the problematic skill successfully.Why wouldn’t watching a professional be Why wouldn’t watching a professional be successful in this situation?successful in this situation?Not similar standard- attribution to other Not similar standard- attribution to other factors?factors?Vicarious experiences reduces worry and Vicarious experiences reduces worry and develops confidence.develops confidence.

Verbal Persuasion…Verbal Persuasion…

Involves convincing the athlete that they Involves convincing the athlete that they have the ability to perform the skill.have the ability to perform the skill.

The positive talk is an attempt to elevate The positive talk is an attempt to elevate self-belief and is conveyed by the coach.self-belief and is conveyed by the coach.

Many successful performers, however, Many successful performers, however, rely on “Positive Self-talk” rather than rely on “Positive Self-talk” rather than others- Why?others- Why?

Success- Attribution to themselves…Success- Attribution to themselves…

Control of Arousal…Control of Arousal…

This refers to the evaluation the performer This refers to the evaluation the performer makes of their internal feelings and physiological makes of their internal feelings and physiological state.state.Those lacking in self-efficacy may portray…Those lacking in self-efficacy may portray… Increased HRIncreased HR Increased respirationIncreased respiration SweatingSweating

These are not symptoms of readiness for These are not symptoms of readiness for performance.performance.They show nervousness and worry.They show nervousness and worry.

Self-efficacy and Elite Performers…Self-efficacy and Elite Performers…

High self-efficacy is essential High self-efficacy is essential for elite standards.for elite standards.It is equally important to It is equally important to develop a healthy active develop a healthy active lifestyle at recreational levels.lifestyle at recreational levels.Although a positive attitude Although a positive attitude towards exercise does not towards exercise does not predict participation (Dishman predict participation (Dishman et al, 1980) it appears that the et al, 1980) it appears that the degree of efficacy is the major degree of efficacy is the major motivating factor that motivating factor that encourages engagement in encourages engagement in fitness activities.fitness activities.

““The most consistent difference The most consistent difference between elite and less between elite and less successful athletes is that successful athletes is that elite athletes possess greater elite athletes possess greater self-confidence” self-confidence”

(Gould et. Al, 1997)(Gould et. Al, 1997)

Finally…Finally…

McAuley (1992) stated that if people can McAuley (1992) stated that if people can develop high self-efficacy expectations in develop high self-efficacy expectations in relation to exercise programmes, they are relation to exercise programmes, they are more likely to adopt and persist in healthy more likely to adopt and persist in healthy lifestyles by taking up physical activities.lifestyles by taking up physical activities.