What's The Difference Between Self-efficacy, Self-concept, & Self-esteem? Ed Psych Insight Ep. 7

Summary

In this video, the speaker explores the differences between self-efficacy, self-concept, and self-esteem using examples from tennis, football, and academics. Self-concept refers to how we perceive our abilities in different domains, while self-efficacy focuses on our confidence in completing specific tasks. Self-esteem, on the other hand, is our overall emotional evaluation of our worth, influenced by our competencies in areas we value. The video highlights how self-efficacy can be adjusted quickly, self-concept takes more time to shift, and self-esteem is the hardest to change due to its broader scope. The speaker also demonstrates how self-efficacy impacts performance.

Takeaways

• 😀 Self-concept refers to your perceptions of your abilities in different domains like sports, academics, or social relationships.
• 😀 Self-efficacy is your confidence in completing specific activities within a domain, such as successfully serving in tennis or solving a math problem.
• 😀 Self-esteem is an emotional reaction to your overall self-evaluation as a person of worth, influenced by how well you perform in the areas that matter most to you.
• 😀 Self-concept is multidimensional; it can vary across different domains like athletics, academics, and personal relationships.
• 😀 Self-concept is hierarchical, meaning it is made up of broader categories (e.g., athletic self-concept) and narrower categories (e.g., tennis self-concept).
• 😀 Self-concept can change depending on who you're comparing yourself to—your self-concept in sports might be higher when comparing yourself to peers rather than professionals.
• 😀 Self-efficacy is domain-specific, focusing on your ability to perform particular tasks (e.g., hitting a tennis serve), while self-concept is broader and relates to general competence in a domain.
• 😀 High self-efficacy in a specific area is likely to correlate with higher performance in that area, as demonstrated by the speaker’s successful tennis serve after rating their self-efficacy as a seven.
• 😀 Self-esteem is influenced by the areas you value most; for example, if you value academics, a low academic self-concept can lower your self-esteem even if you excel in other areas like athletics.
• 😀 It is easier to change self-efficacy in a short period, like learning how to add double-digit numbers, whereas changes in self-concept or self-esteem take longer and require more sustained effort.

Q & A

What is self-concept, and how is it measured?

Self-concept refers to how we perceive our abilities in various domains, such as academics, athletics, or social skills. It is often measured by rating oneself on a scale in different areas, like tennis or football, and can vary based on comparisons with others.

How does self-concept relate to comparisons with others?

Self-concept can change depending on who you compare yourself to. For example, you may rate your tennis skills highly compared to your friends but rate them much lower when comparing yourself to professional athletes.

What is the difference between self-concept and self-efficacy?

Self-concept is a broader perception of one's abilities across various domains, while self-efficacy focuses on a person's confidence in performing a specific task or activity, such as hitting a tennis serve.

Why are self-efficacy and self-concept linked?

Self-efficacy influences self-concept because successful experiences in specific activities (like solving math problems) contribute to a more positive self-concept in that domain. For example, high self-efficacy in math can improve one's overall academic self-concept.

How does self-efficacy affect performance?

Self-efficacy is a strong predictor of performance. The higher your confidence in completing a task (like making a tennis serve), the more likely you are to perform successfully. This is because belief in your ability can drive better effort and focus.

Can self-efficacy change quickly?

Yes, self-efficacy can change relatively quickly, especially when learning a new activity. For example, a person who struggles with double-digit addition could see an immediate boost in their self-efficacy after receiving proper guidance or practice.

What is the relationship between self-esteem and self-concept?

Self-esteem is an emotional evaluation of your overall self-worth, which is influenced by your self-concept. If you feel competent in the areas you value, your self-esteem will be higher. Conversely, low self-concept in important domains can lead to lower self-esteem.

How does self-esteem relate to what we value?

Self-esteem is heavily influenced by what we value. For example, if someone values academics but has a low self-concept in that area, their self-esteem may suffer, even if they excel in other areas like athletics.

Why is self-esteem more difficult to change than self-efficacy?

Self-esteem is harder to change because it is a more global, emotional evaluation of self-worth, shaped by many factors over time. In contrast, self-efficacy focuses on specific tasks and can be adjusted relatively quickly through practice and positive experiences.

What are the hierarchical and multi-dimensional aspects of self-concept?

Self-concept is hierarchical, meaning it is made up of both broad categories (like athletic self-concept) and narrower subcategories (like tennis or football self-concept). It is also multi-dimensional, as one can have different ratings for various self-concepts depending on the domain (e.g., academics vs. athletics).