Bandura Basics
Who created the theory of self-efficacy?
Albert Bandura
Fill in the blank: “______ builds confidence.”
Success builds confidence
What’s the #1 most powerful source of self-efficacy?
Past performance (mastery experiences)
What mental technique do athletes use to “see it before they do it”?
Imagery or visualization
Fill in the blank: Self-efficacy affects effort, persistence, and _______.
Choice (what tasks you attempt)
In what year was self-efficacy first introduced?
1977
True or False: Failure always destroys self-efficacy.
False – failure doesn’t always destroy it, especially if seen as a chance to learn or bounce back
What do we call it when you build confidence by watching others?
Vicarious experiences (modeling/observing others)
True or False: Imagery can only involve vision.
False – imagery can involve all senses (sight, sound, touch, etc.)
Give an example of how self-efficacy might help a player under pressure.
Example: A basketball player believing they can make a free throw despite a noisy crowd
What larger theory is self-efficacy a part of?
Social-Cognitive Theory
Why is goal-setting useful for confidence?
Because achieving goals gives a sense of progress and mastery
What source involves encouragement, pep talks, or feedback?
Verbal persuasion (encouragement, pep talks)
What’s one example of a motivational use of imagery?
Imagining winning, achieving goals, or handling pressure successfully
How can uniforms or body language affect opponents’ confidence?
Intimidating body language or professional-looking uniforms can lower opponents’ confidence
Define “self-efficacy” in simple terms.
Belief in your ability to successfully do a task
What should athletes attribute their successes to in order to boost confidence—luck, effort, or equipment?
Effort (internal and controllable)
How do emotions like anxiety or excitement affect self-efficacy?
interpreted positively = excitement/energy
interpreted negatively = anxiety/stress
Why might imagining success help with real performance?
Because the brain “practices” the action, which makes the real task feel more familiar and doable
Why is it better to build confidence in specific skills rather than “overall”?
Because confidence is domain-specific (you might feel strong in one skill but not another)
What’s the difference between self-efficacy and self-confidence?
Self-confidence = general feeling of certainty self-efficacy = specific belief about your ability in a given situation
What might happen if a coach always lowers challenges too much?
Athletes may not feel challenged or may attribute success to easy tasks instead of their own skills
Name three of the six sources of self-efficacy.
Any three of: past performance, vicarious experiences, verbal persuasion, emotional states, physiological states, imagery
What happens if an athlete repeatedly imagines themselves failing?
It can reduce confidence and lower performance
What’s one way a team can boost collective efficacy (team confidence)?
Examples: celebrating small wins together, team bonding, practicing as a unit, positive communication