Self-efficacy in goal attainment
Setting proximal goals provides evidence of increasing skill attainment. If we possess the conviction of self-efficacy we would set attainable goals, while if we lack this valuational judgment, we would be prone to make more mistakes, leading to a decrease in aspirations. Bandura argued that it is difficult to achieve goals when we are struggling with self-doubt.
Self-efficacy can be both a cause and a consequence. In achieving the proposed performance, we notice an increase in our efficacy, which allows us to set more demanding goals and thus increase self-efficacy. The higher the level of self-efficacy, the higher the self-imposed goals.
Self-efficacy and outcome expectations
Outcome expectancy refers to the assumption that a certain behavior will lead us to a stipulated outcome. The outcome obtained leads to an evaluative judgment about our performance. In general, if we believe that our outcomes are determined by our own behavior, we tend to be more active than if we have a fatalistic view of outcomes.
Both perceived self-efficacy and outcome expectations determine our skiing behavior. Both aspects interact with each other, but it may happen that having a high outcome expectation we may as well have a low perceived self-efficacy, so we will hardly reach our goal or will do it poorly.
Generally, we tend to confuse the action with the outcome. In reality, the outcome should be considered as the consequence of the action, not the action itself. Therefore, when we experience failure according to the result obtained, it does not necessarily mean that our actions were a failure since they may have depended on uncontrollable external issues, even if they were appropriate. Finally, the locus of control refers to our beliefs of the circumstances of the results, i.e., whether they are determined by our own causes or, on the contrary, by external causes beyond our control.
The influence of self-esteem on successes and failures
The judgments that are made about successes and failures alter, positively or negatively, our self-efficacy beliefs that, in turn, will be reflected in future performances. When we have perceived self-efficacy we view the context positively, expanding the domain of skiing situations because we are confident in our own actions. On the contrary, having little or no self-efficacy we will perceive ourselves as fearful of facing new situations, avoiding certain contexts even if they will help us in the future.
If we present a high level of self-efficacy, we will visualize success; on the opposite, externalizing doubts about our own efficacy will induce us to imagine situations of failure. With respect to these, having high self-efficacy will make us attribute them to insufficient effort or adverse external conditions, while perceiving low self-efficacy we will attribute them to our own inability.
Our beliefs of efficacy can be increased by selective self-monitoring of successes. Recalling situations of our past achievements or watching videos of good performances influences the improvement of self-efficacy.
When we experience repeated success in controlling environmental conditions, we tend to become more attentive to our skiing behavior and more competent in executing effective responses. The hardest aspect of success is feeling compelled to continue to succeed.
When continuing to improve our performances but experiencing isolated failures, we will be prone to increase self-efficacy beliefs. Performing well but realizing that we have reached a plateau in our performances or have attained our own fitness limit, we would be predisposed not to invest additional effort to achieve higher performances.
When successful performances are slow in coming, having a high sense of efficacy will make us persist, while low self-efficacy will make us give up quickly.
Operational efficacy after failure
After a failure, especially in the initial stage of learning, the beginner with a low sense of efficacy is prone to give up quickly because he doubts his own abilities; has difficulty in re-motivating himself; his new aspirations are low; and will weakly strive to achieve new goals. Faced with future difficult situations, he will be suspicious of his own lack of aptitude and will think of the adverse consequences of a new failure. This rumination will provoke psychological discomfort and will further weaken his efforts and analytical thoughts, shifting the attention from the search to improve his performance to personal deficits and possible displeasures.
After a disappointment, the beginner skier may tend to slowly regain his sense of efficacy, but a few frustrations are enough to make him lose confidence in his own abilities again. On the contrary, the beginner who firmly believes in his own abilities assumes difficult tasks as challenges to be mastered rather than threats to be avoided. Such an orientation fuels his interest towards an enthusiastic commitment to skiing. He sets ambitious goals and cultivates a strong dedication to himself. He puts a lot of effort into what he does and in the face of failure increases his efforts. Regardless of difficulties, he stays focused on the task and thinks strategically. He attributes failure to lack of commitment and quickly recovers his sense of efficacy, facing potential sources of danger or stress with the confidence that can control them somehow.
