Related Experiment Videos
The moderating effects of performance ambiguity on the relationship between self-efficacy and performance
Aaron M Schmidt1, Richard P DeShon
1Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455-0344, USA. aschmidt@umn.edu
The Journal of Applied Psychology
|May 19, 2010
Summary
Self-efficacy
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Organizational Behavior
Background:
- Conventional views posit self-efficacy positively influences performance.
- Recent research indicates a negative within-person relationship between self-efficacy and performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- Examine performance ambiguity as a boundary condition for the negative self-efficacy effect.
- Investigate mediating processes of performance perceptions and effort allocation.
Main Methods:
- Empirical investigation of the self-efficacy-performance relationship.
- Analysis of mediating factors in high and low performance ambiguity conditions.
Main Results:
- Self-efficacy negatively related to performance under high ambiguity.
- Self-efficacy positively related to performance under low ambiguity.
- Performance perceptions and effort allocation mediate the self-efficacy-performance link.
Conclusions:
- Performance ambiguity moderates the self-efficacy-performance relationship.
- Understanding these dynamics can mitigate negative self-efficacy effects.
- Highlights the importance of context in self-efficacy research.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Sources of Self-Esteem II: Performance Feedback
Self-esteem is intricately tied to our perception of competence and our ability to exert control over our lives. One of the primary sources of this perception is performance feedback — the ongoing evaluation of our actions in terms of success and failure. According to Franks and Marolla (1976), people derive self-worth from experiencing themselves as causal agents, capable of achieving goals and overcoming obstacles. This process nurtures a critical component of self-esteem: self-efficacy,...
01:29Self-Evaluation Maintenance Model
The Self-Evaluation Maintenance (SEM) model offers a psychological framework to understand how individuals’ self-esteem is influenced by the achievements of others, particularly those with whom they share close personal bonds. The SEM model operates when personal rather than social identity guides individuals. Central to this model is the notion that individuals have an inherent desire to preserve a favorable self-image, which is continuously shaped by interpersonal comparisons and...
01:29Self-Efficacy
Self-efficacy is the belief in one's capacity to organize and execute actions necessary to manage prospective situations. This belief significantly influences how individuals approach goals, tasks, and challenges across different domains of life.Psychological and Educational ImpactsIndividuals with strong self-efficacy are more resilient in the face of difficulties. They are more likely to adopt effective problem-solving strategies, persist through obstacles, and regulate emotions such as...
02:45Self-Discrepancy Theory
One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
01:29Self-Discrepancy and Its Effects
Self-discrepancy theory explains how people compare their actual self to their ideal and ought selves and how mismatches between these self-guides can lead to emotional distress. Developed by E. Tory Higgins, the theory distinguishes among three components of self-concept: the actual self, the ideal self, and the ought self. These refer respectively to how individuals perceive themselves, how they aspire to be, and how they believe they are obligated to be. Emotional well-being, self-esteem,...
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...