2) 5.2 confidence and self-efficacy in sport performance

• self confidence - a general feeling of confidence towards an activity, opponent, challenge etc
• self efficacy - a situational specific form of self-confidence which is directed towards a specific aspect of your performance.
• Self efficacy depends on four factor:

  • performance accomplishment
  • vicarious experiences
  • verbal persuasion
  • emotional arousal
• performance accomplishment - success leads to high self-efficacy and failure leads to low self-efficacy
• vicarious experiences - watching others of similar ability affects our self-efficacy
• verbal persuasion -  comments from significant others affect self-efficacy 

  E.g if they praise you this increases your self efficacy
• emotional arousal - optimum level of arousal needed for high self-efficacy 
• Strategies to improve self efficacy:

  • set goals
  • positive feedback like praise
  • ensure success - the task should be difficult but has a high probability of success
  • avoid social comparisons
  • mental imagery
  • watch past successful performances
  • vicarious experiences - demonstrations most effective when performed by someone similar ability to you
• Causes of reduction in self-efficacy:

  • lack of success leading to learned helplessness
  • goals are too unrealistic
  • feedback from the coach is too negative
  • external rewards are restricted to best performers rather than to all who reach their target
• trait sports confidence - an individuals innate, natural belief in their general sporting ability
• competitive orientation - how prepared an individual is to compete, and the types of goals they have set
• objective sports situation - the nature of the task that is to be performed
• state sports confidence - an individuals belief in their ability to be successful at a particular time
• subjective perceptions of outcome - how someone interprets their performance in sport
• Vealeys model of sports confidence

  objective sports situation

  = trait sports confidence + competitive orientation

  = state sports confidence

  = performance of the skill

  = subjective perception of outcome
• Vealeys model of sport confidence - the belief or degree of certainty individuals possess about their ability to be successful in sport
• trait sports confidence:

  • innate
  • stable
  • relates to general belief about ability to succeed in all sports
• state sports confidence:

  • unstable and can be changed
  • can be developed through learning
  • relates to a general belief about ability to succeed in one particular sport in that moment in time
• improve state sports confidence:

  • mastery of skill
  • environmental comfort
  • social reinforcement
  • effective leadership
  • styling
• bandura's theory of self-efficacy
• Vealey's sport confidence model