How does self-confidence, specifically self-efficacy, relate to sporting performance? Sporting performance and results in competitions can be attributed to a wide variety of different factors. Many psychologists believe self-confidence to be one of the most significant determinants of sporting performance. The term self-confidence is quite general and it has been narrowed into some smaller categories to enable researchers to analyse it more accurately. Sport confidence and self-efficacy are the two main approaches that psychologists use to analyse the self-confidence of an individual. Vealey (1986) completed much of the research surrounding sport confidence. She includes two main aspects in this theory, trait self-confidence and state self-confidence. These two aspects interact with each other in her model of sport confidence. (Click on link below for Vealey's model of sport confidence) http://www.angelfire.com/dc2/timgrahl/Psychological_prep_vealey.doc Bandura (1977) was one of the first psychologists to complete in depth research into the concept of self-efficacy and relating it to sporting performance and success. Note that his research into self-efficacy, and the model of self-efficacy that he produced, can be applied to most areas of psychology, not just sports psychology. http://www.angelfire.com/dc2/timgrahl/bandura The model by Bandura (click on above link) can be used to provide suggestions for how to increase someone?s self-efficacy before or during a competition or performance. Performance accomplishments, Vicarious experiences, Verbal persuasion, Emotional arousal, Physiological states and Imaginal experiences (imagery) can all be used to help to increase a performers self-efficacy and self-confidence. It has been proven that a high level of self-efficacy results in a more successful performance in most cases. Grahl (2002) completed a small study within 2 local football teams to analyse self-efficacy and group-efficacy to establish if these factors can effect player performance and results. The results of Grahl?s study (click on link below) show that in this case, the high level of group-efficacy could have contributed to both teams winning their matches. http://www.angelfire.com/dc2/timgrahl/questionnaire_word.doc Self-efficacy has been the main focus of research in the area of confidence related to performance. There has been a lack of research into group-efficacy but the amount of work in this area is likely to increase in the future. Further research into group-efficacy should provide an accurate understanding of how influential group-efficacy is on team performance and results. This article was written by Tim Grahl. I am a student at The Nottingham Trent University and am studying a 3 year degree course in sports (science and management). One of the modules in the third year is psychological preparation for sport and this is my article on a chosen subject of: How does self-confidence, specifically self-efficacy, relate to sporting performance? Visit my university homepage at: www.ntu.ac.uk Visit the psychological preparation for sport homepage at: http://science.ntu.ac.uk/life/staff/asz/psyprep.htm E-mail me at: [email protected] E-mail my lecturer at: [email protected]