selbstwirksame

Selbstwirksamkeit, a German term, translates to self-efficacy in English. It is a psychological concept that refers to an individual's belief in their own ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish a task. Coined by Albert Bandura, self-efficacy is a core component of his social cognitive theory. It influences how people think, feel, behave, and motivate themselves.

A strong sense of self-efficacy leads individuals to approach difficult tasks with confidence, viewing them as challenges to be overcome rather than threats to be avoided. Those with high self-efficacy are more likely to set challenging goals, exert greater effort, persist longer in the face of setbacks, and recover more quickly from failures. Conversely, individuals with low self-efficacy tend to doubt their abilities, avoid challenging tasks, and give up more easily when confronted with obstacles.

Self-efficacy is developed and strengthened through four main sources: mastery experiences (successful performance), vicarious experiences (observing others succeed), social persuasion (encouragement from others), and physiological and emotional states (interpreting one's physical and emotional reactions). It is not a global trait but is specific to particular domains or tasks. For example, someone might have high self-efficacy in their academic abilities but low self-efficacy in their athletic performance. The concept is crucial in understanding motivation, performance, and well-being across various fields, including education, health, and psychotherapy.