Self-Efficacy

[Dana Sheets]

Self-Efficacy is a concept that is used in educationa and public health circles to describe how an individuals belief in their ability to do something (complete a task, change their behavior, etc) has a positive influence on the outcome.

I'm going to post a couple of abstracts and articles. This is a spin off of Van's current thread - "What you don't learn in a dojo." but I didn't want to distract from that discussion. The field of public health in particular has developed models that represent how you move an individual along the path of greater perceived self-efficacy.

I'm not a public health professional or anything but I've been exposed to these theories through my work.

Happy reading,
Dana

[Dana Sheets]

[Dana Sheets]

I would wager that one of the key benefits of martial arts training in the realm of both health and self-defense is the strong belief that you can do something.

[Dana Sheets]

One model:
http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~health/hapa.htm

The Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) suggests that the adoption, initiation, and maintenance of health behaviours must be explicitly conceived as a process that consists of at least a motivation phase and a volition phase. The latter might be further subdivided into a planning phase, action phase, and maintenance phase. It is claimed that perceived self-efficacy plays a crucial role at all stages along with other cognitions (Bandura, 1997). For example, risk perceptions serve predominantly to set the stage for a contemplation process early in the motivation phase but do not extend beyond. Similarly, outcome expectancies are chiefly important in the motivation phase when individuals balance the pros and cons of certain consequences of behaviours, but they lose their predictive power after a personal decision has been made. However, if one does not believe in one's capability to perform a desired action, one will fail to adopt, initiate and maintain it.

[Dana Sheets]

So this isn't rocket science or anything but it gives us a way to discuss, step by step how people may or may not form intentions to defend themselves, how people may or may not make efforts to develop or maintain those skills (generally due to perceived and real barriers, fluxuations in motivation, and fear of risk.)

In short - taking a good hard look at this model could help exlpain why women across the nation aren't flocking or Uechi-ryu or other "hard" "traditional" styles and/or why they may start flocking to them some day. It could also help us better understand and adopt pedagogical practices in the dojo that will promote perceived self-efficacy in self-defense situations.

Or it could just be a bunch of academic mumbo-jumbo...

[Dana Sheets]

Below is a General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) in English. There are much more advanced and complicated versions of this scale for various health conditions (such as asthma, weight loss, hiv/aids, and arthritis) and also for things like computer use, social situations, and other tasks.

I don't think it is beyond the realm of possibility to come up with one for perceived self-efficacy in self-defense situations. A well written and tested scale, such as the one below, could help identify underlying concerns in students that may or not be addressed in the course of a normal dojo session. These concerns may be able to be addressed by a typical martial arts instructor...then again...they may not. That's why folks use scales and such with a target population - is to dig around a little bit and find out if conventional wisdom holds true or doesn't hold up to the test.


English version by Ralf Schwarzer & Matthias Jerusalem, 1993

Rate the following questions below on a scale of 1-4.
1 = Not at all true 2 = Hardly true 3 = Moderately true 4 = Exactly true

1. I can always manage to solve difficult problems if I try hard enough.

2. If someone opposes me, I can find the means and ways to get what I want.

3. It is easy for me to stick to my aims and accomplish my goals.

4.I am confident that I could deal efficiently with unexpected events.

5. Thanks to my resourcefulness, I know how to handle unforeseen situations.

6. I can solve most problems if I invest the necessary effort.

7. I can remain calm when facing difficulties because I can rely on my coping abilities.

8. When I am confronted with a problem, I can usually find several solutions.

9. If I am in trouble, I can usually think of a solution.

10. I can usually handle whatever comes my way.

[Bill Glasheen]

This is an interesting concept to consider, Dana. And from this we can see how the whole "self confidence" thing is promoted in the Main Street martial arts school.

Consider how the tool you just posted quantifies "self efficacy" on a 40-point scale. That means that a universe of individuals who would take this can be all over the map on this. And I would venture to say that an individual's self efficacy can vary from task to task, and from point in time to point in time.

So here's what I'm thinking here. I've always wondered if there's a "just right" level of self-efficacy. Having a gap between perception and reality from either end can have its risks. Take for instance the freshman basketball player competing in an NCAA tournament who rises beyond his normal ability. I often talk about individuals in that situation being "too stupid to be afraid." Ignorance can be a good thing sometimes. And sometimes it can get you into trouble.

What about the teacher whose modus operendum is to convince people they don't know squat? Is that a good thing, or is it a bad thing? To what end does someone engage in that practice? Do they do it to motivate, or is it a sign of a deep seated insecurity expressed in a way difficult to understand on the surface? But more importantly, how does someone respond to poor self-efficacy in such a situation? Do they have the resources to change their perceptions (via hard work and investigation) or are they likely just to walk away from the activity because they're tired of hearing all that beat-me-down BS?

And what about the opposite end? What do we say about the teacher who builds confidence? Is that a good or a bad thing? Will said teacher motivate an individual better than the person who operates on the opposite extreme? Are there issues with "too much confidence" when the stakes are high and the ability at least temporarily isn't there?

What is "just right", and how does that vary from circumstance to circumstance?

Food for thought.

- Bill

[Dana Sheets]

Hey Rory and Rich - do LEO's and/or the Marines use anything like this to assess the confidence level of cadets/recruits in their training?


Couple of questions that come to mind off hand in no particular order:

1. I will not let personal insults affect my self-esteem
2. A larger, stronger person will be able to defeat me
3. I have the ability to defend myself against a single violent attacker
4. I have the ability to defend myself against multiple violent attackers
5. I am confident that even if I get hit first I will continue fighting
6. I am confident that even if I get shot I will continue fighting
7. I have the ability to end a verbal argument without using physical means.
8. If I am a man and insulted by another man in front of my friends, girlfriend or wife I will not let the insult affect my self-esteem. (Same question with a woman and then alternating the genders of the insulting person)
9. If someone is attempting to rape me I am confident I will fight back.
10. If someone is bothering me in a public place I am confident that I will tell them to stop bothering me and to leave me alone.
11. I have the ability to strike areas of an attacker's body that will cause physical pain and bodily harm.
12. I have the ability to redirect an attacker's force in such a way that I can throw them to the ground.
13. I am confident that if I get knocked to the ground I will continue to be able to fight.
14. I am confident that if I am slapped I will be able to defend myself. (in particular for women?)
15. I am confident that if I regularly carry a weapon on my person (specify knife, gun, other) that I will be able to use it to defend myself against an attacker.
16. I am confident that if I regularly carry a weapon on my person (specify knife, gun, other) my attacker will not be able to take that weapon away from me and use it on me.
17. I am confident that I can defend myself after I have been drinking alcohol.
18. I am confident that I can resolve verbal conflicts without using a physical response after I have been drinking alcohol.
19. I am confident that I can launch a pre-emptive attack if I feel that a physcial attack is imminent.
20. I am confident that I will be able to deal with the psychological aftermath if I must use physical means to defend myself.
21. I am confident that I will be able to cope with the psychological aftermath if I must use verbal means to resolve a conflict.
22. I am confident that I can recognize when someone is interviewing me for a possible assault.
23. I am confident that I have given myself persmission to defend myself if someone else is trying to harm me.
{questions 1-23 are © 2006 from Dana's Brain }

...so I think the one for martial arts would be very complicated unless you sort of target in on a single area...

[RACastanet]

Hi Dana. Both tests are very good and I may make use of them.

Hmm... No, there is no test like this that I know of. However, some of the specific questions are addressed at various points in the program.

One overlying principle is that a Marine will "Do the right thing, in the right way, for the right reasons". That encompasses a few of the questions.

Then there is the warrior creed:


THE WARRIOR CREED
By Robert L. Humphrey
(Iwo Jima Marine)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wherever I go,
everyone is a little bit safer because I am there.

Wherever I am,
anyone in need has a friend.


Whenever I return home,
everyone is happy I am there.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is the tough one:

Whenever I return home,
everyone is happy I am there.

Who here has never had the experience of coming home from a long day or long and tiring trip and just behaved miserably? Adding this to my thought process has improved my live in general.

Wherever I go,
everyone is a little bit safer because I am there.

I experienced this Wednesday at the school I sub at. I was filling in for a MCJROTC instructor and it was a uniform day so I was in my desert cammies. While on hall duty a really nasty cat fight broke out between two large young ladies intent on doing serious damage to eachother. This was a serious fight with blood, hair ripped out and screams of death threats.

Since this was between two females I let the female teachers hold the girls apart until the school resource officer (a county LEO) arrived. One girl was moved into an office and the more agressive one was being escorted by the LEO in a 'polite' arm lock. Well, not content to let the other participant get away she just bolted away to go get her again.

I was already walking away when I heard the screams again as the aggressive girl ran by me in the hall and hung a left. I went down a parallel hall and waited for her. She was being pusrued by a group of teachers, supervisors, the LEO and turned up another hall in my direction. When she saw me trotting towards her she turned around and ran back into the other group. Heh, heh. To make the story short, this young lady had to be cuffed she was so non-compliant.

After that I went back to my assigned corner and one of the teachers came by, smiled, and said "It sure is nice to see someone in uniform here".

Just think, I made them feel safer just being there. That made my day.

Rich

[Dana Sheets]

Rich - you are just one heck of a good guy.


-Dana

[Stryke]

I think this is an important topic .

and of course my opinion as usual will be a little out of left feild

I`m leaving the beleif is most important in self defence thing alone , I agree , but I also agree you have to question everything you do , and thats seems contradictory to some .

Where I find this self efficacy stuff important is in the actual training ....

It is so easy to establish (even unknowlingly) an attitude of this karate stuff is hard , and that`ll take years to learn .... how many times have more adanced folks heard ... "I`f only I could get as good as you ".

This to me is self defeating and the opposite of instilling confidence , the technical frustration many feel can go right to the core of self perception and self defence .

I think this is one of the core reasons I`m such a fan of the word Natural , I try and convey how blessed and talented every human being is , and how natural unconstructed motion is the most powerful tool we have .

In fact I beleive everyone physically intact , and mobile is already a master balckbelt the just havent realsied yet .

I see karate as a method of unlearning , discarding the unatural movemnts learnt over the years .

I want every student or training partner (I`m not big on labels either) to beleive in there inate ability and naturalness .

conspets like you can already step , how much effort would it take to swat a fly , how quick could you flick that of it was alight switch ? , changing the paradigm , from difficult and technical , into natural and obvious .

Jim Maloney is the example I`d hold up for Uechi folks , most have probably seen him talking about punching being a primal technique , In fact I think most of it`s primal , and instinctual , and I think our job isnt to confrom but to realise the inherent ability we all posess .

All this is hugely related to self efficacy , or whatever term you shoose to call it .

someone not only confident but aware , and comfortable with there own motion and co-ordination ...

this to me is the starting point of ability .

I think we need to be aware that rigid training can instill quite the opposite .

If anyone says to me they want to be able to do something as well , I tell them there quite capable of doing it better , however to limit yourself to doing it my way may not necessarilly work .

All harmonious motion is inherently powerfull , the only limit is understanding and preconditioning .

If you try to do something youve already likely failed .

just do . like taking a step , or flicking of a light switch .

[Dana Sheets]

source:
http://www.musc.edu/vawprevention/resea ... fense.html


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Ullman, S.E. & Knight, R.A. (1995). Women’s resistance strategies to different rapist types. Criminal Justice and behavior, 22, 263-283.

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Weitlauf, J.C., Cervone, D. Smith, R., & Wright, P.M. (2001). Assessing generalization in perceived self-efficacy: Multidomain and global assessments of the effects of self-defense training for women. Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin, 27, 1683-1691.

Weitlauf, J.C., Smith, R., Cervone, D. (2000). Generalization effects of coping-skills training: Influence of self-defense training on women’s efficacy beliefs, assertiveness, and aggression. Journal of Applied Psychology, 85, 625-633.

Zoucha- Jensen, J.M. & Coyne, A. (1993). The effects of resistance strategies on rape. American Journal of Public Health, 83, 1633-1634.

[Dana Sheets]

Journal of Applied Psychology - Volume 85(4) - Page 625

1. Generalization effects of coping-skills training: Influence of self-defense training on women's efficacy beliefs, assertiveness, and aggression.
by Weitlauf, Julie C.; Smith, Ronald E.; Cervone, Daniel
from Journal of Applied Psychology. 2000 Aug Vol 85(4) 625-633

Concern for personal safety is a pervasive stressor for many women. Developing competencies in physical self-defense may empower women to engage more freely in daily activities with less fear. This study assessed the effects of physical self-defense training on multiple aspects of women's perceived self-efficacy and other self-reported personality characteristics. Training powerfully increased task-specific (self-defense) efficacy beliefs as well as physical and global efficacy beliefs. Training increased self-reported assertiveness, and posttraining decreases in hostility and aggression were found on several of the subscales of The Aggression Questionnaire (A. H. Buss & M. Perry, 1992), indicating that training did not have an aggression-disinhibiting effect. In the experimental condition, most of the effects were maintained (and some delayed effects appeared at follow-up. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2005 APA, all rights reserved)

[Dana Sheets]

http://www.centralquestion.com/aggression/test.html

Take the test and find out...


My overall score was 83.

[Stryke]

my score was 66 ... tests like that piss me off though

I think i need to work on being more aggressive and assertive