Canadian-born psychologist Albert Bandura, often referred to as one of the most influential psychologists in history, introduced the concept of self-efficacy. He is credited with the statement, "Self-belief does not necessarily ensure success, but self-disbelief assuredly spawns failure." Believing that you are capable of something makes it much more likely that you will succeed. Self-efficacy can act as a motivator, as it can influence one's willingness to make an effort. It can also affect one's coping skills when faced with challenges. In my psychology practice, I have had some clients who, at the start of therapy, have felt that they were not confident in their own ability to use the tools of therapy to overcome obstacles in their lives. Often, these clients would hesitate to initiate action based on the belief that they did not have the capacity to be successful in doing so. Yet, once they began employing the tools of therapy, they realized that they were competent and efficacious. They felt a sense of pride in having been able to effect change, which then motivated them to continue making further effort.
It would seem that the flip side of self-efficacy is anxiety. If one has the belief that they can cope with whatever comes their way, they are less likely to experience anxiety during times of adversity. Those high in self-efficacy would be more likely to perceive challenges as conquerable. In contrast, individuals who have low self-efficacy may experience more anxiety and employ less adaptive coping strategies. Thinking you can handle something difficult if it happens decreases anxiety and fear, whereas thinking you can't handle something makes you more afraid, and perhaps more avoidant, of situations which may be challenging.
We can all learn from the line "I think I can, I think I can," in the children's book The Little Engine That Could. Perseverance and positive thinking go a long way toward success. Whatever the challenge, whether it be confidence in one's ability to be successful at work, optimism that one can resolve a personal problem if it arises, or positive beliefs in one's ability to navigate obstacles in a relationship, the idea of self efficacy is central to all areas of life, during all phases of life. When you consider self-efficacy in terms of the lifespan, it might seem like ignorance is bliss. For example, some people believe that youth think they are invincible (as the old saying goes). I'll admit, my young adult children seem to have confidence that I, at times, may appear to lack. (I assume I used to be that way at their age though, too). Now, in mid-life, there are times I feel less self-efficacious than I used to feel. Perhaps it goes along with the saying attributed to Albert Einstein, "The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know."
Simply put, as Helen Keller has been quoted, "Nothing can be done without hope and confidence." Perhaps we should add self-efficacy to that as well. A positive outlook and belief in oneself seem to be central to accomplishing all kinds of goals, at any age. Maybe if there were a way to combine the optimism and fearlessness of youth, with the wisdom and experience of age, then we would all be able to exude high levels of self-efficacy. In the meantime, whatever obstacles we face, let's just keep reminding ourselves of The Little Engine That Could, and keep saying "I Think I Can, I Think I Can!"
