Question

Define self-efficacy and agency. Distinguish these concepts from self-concept and self-esteem and explain sources of self-efficacy. Discuss self-efficacy beliefs as related to teaching.

Answer 1

Self-efficacy refers to one’s perceived ability to do things and agency on the other hand refers to one’s actual ability to do things in reality. Self-concept is the image one has about oneself in terms of one’s feelings, thoughts, emotions and behaviours and it is the actuals and the in terms of fulfilling the expectations. Self-esteem on the other hand relates to how much one values oneself in terms of their overall physical, emotional and behavioural self.

Self-efficacy thus plays a major role in determining how one would do certain tasks because fear of unknown and fear of failure will cripple people from doing their best. They would always underperform if their self-efficacy is undermined and make mistakes if it is over estimated. So, learning helps people overcome these issues through experience. Once one starts to teach, they will be able to gain enough experience and strike a balance. The fear of unknown, the fear of failure, the fear of audience or students and the fear of performing to the expectations will all be over.