Bandura’s self efficacy theory

The self efficacy theory (1977) explains an individual’s belief in their own ability to change their behavior.
Bandura cited:
- Mastery experiences
- Vicarious reinforcement
- Effects of social persuasion and emotional states as important influences.
Self efficacy is an individual’s beliefs in their ability to influence events and affect life changes.
High self efficacy is helpful in behavioural change but it can lead to over-confidence.
Self efficacy is influenced by mastery experiences, vicarious reinforcement, social persuasion and emotional state.

1. Outcome expectancy:
- individuals assessment that a certain behaviour will lead to a particular outcome.
2. Mastery experiences: mastery = experiencing success
- having success builds self belief
- if an individual experiences failure then it is important to take that failure as a learning outcome as it is important to build resilience.
3. Vicarious reinforcement: behaviour is influenced by role models
- if a role model is reinforced to their behaviour then an individual is more likely to imitate them.
- the strength of the influence depends on the similarity between observer and model.

4. Social persuasion: persuasion from friends and family (respected individuals) can provide a temporary push in a person’s perceived ability to make change.
Individuals who receive persuasion are likely to:
- put in more effort and sustain it
- overcome self doubt
5. Emotional state: is affected by their thinking about their new behaviour.
- stress, anxiety and fear all affect self efficacy negatively
- if stress is reduced and the emotional state improves, a change in self efficacy can be observed.

Aim: to show that self efficacy increases and avoidance decreases with reduction in anxiety through treatment.
Findings:
- after treatment, self efficacy was high and postively correlated with more snake interactions and fewer avoidance behaviours.
- fear was reduced by treatment.
Strengths:
- highly standardised method as the same researcher administered the treatment which reduces experimenter bias.
- participants were in control of the fear hierarchy, so exposure to anxiety was ethical.
Weaknesses:
- anxiety was created by the treatment, which could be unethical.
- the small sample was via a local advert, therefore participants may have shared characteristics, leading to biases.