Part 1
Self efficacy is the degree of a person’s belief in his ability to reach established goals and complete assigned tasks. This concept has been studied widely by psychologists through the many perspectives and developmental paths. Self efficacy can be seen in the resolve of an individual to stick to a diet or a workout regimen. High self efficacy or low self efficacy is one of the determining factors of as to whether or not a person will start a challenging task or will deem it impossible. Self efficacy transcends all aspects of human endeavor. By studying self efficacy, psychologists can determine the beliefs held by an individual or the individual’s power to influence such situations, thereby predicting the said individual’s power to face challenges with competence and the choices the person would most likely make (Bandura, 1997).
Self efficacy can be built through enactive attainment. Through enactive attainment, an individual achieves the experience of mastery. Any success that is achieved helps raises one’s self efficacy. On the other hand, failure lowers self efficacy in an individual. Self efficacy can also be built by modeling. Through modeling, one sees themselves as similar to a given model. In this regard, the success of the model increases the individuals self efficacy while failure on the model’s part has a counteractive effect.
Social persuasion can also help build self efficacy through direct encouragement from other people. Social persuasion through direct discouragement is more effective in degenerating self efficacy than direct encouragement is at building self efficacy. Self efficacy is important because it impacts all human aspects like behavior, psychological states and motivation. As such it is seen in various models of behavior because self efficacy is an important factor in cognitive processes and social behaviors.
Part 2
Question One
The theory of reason is an important factor in improving patient outcomes. The theory of reasoning predicts that in circumstances of solitary ratiocination, individuals will most likely not challenge the reasons upon which they base their beliefs and decisions (Miller, 2005). This theory further posits that people are not mindful of the reasons since they are intended to convince others or serve as self-reinforcing rationalizations. In order to improve health outcomes, the theory of reasoning should be used in a social context, as this is when reasoning works best (Conner & Norman, 2005).
On the other hand, the theory of planned action is very important in improving patient health outcomes because it acts a predictive model though which human behavior is explained. This theory is used extensively in nutrition and other health fields to explain behavior influences in overweight and obesity tendencies (Gutierrez-Dona, et al., 2009). By explaining the behavioral influences, behavioral interventions can be developed in order to reverse negative health outcomes and reinforce positive behavior that can influence positive patient health outcomes.
Question Two
The theory of reasoning and theory of planned action can be put to effective use in improving health and work environment. As explained in environmental psychology, those actions that are friendly to the environment stem from a positive normative belief. In this regard, sustainable behaviors can be upheld as positive behaviors. This is applicable both in the work environment and one’s health (Hale, Householder & Greene, 2002). However, the intention to practices these outlined positive actions can be hampered by personal beliefs that such action might not have the desired impact on the work environment and personal health. However, by applying the theory of reasoning, when such actions are encapsulated in a social context, the self efficacy of the group can be increased through social persuasion, thereby enhancing the improvement of the work environment and personal health (Schwarzer, 2008).
References
Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy. The exercise of control. New York. Worth Publishers.
Conner, M & Norman, P. (2005). Predicting health behavior. Buckingham. Open University Press.
Gutierrez-Dona, et al., (2009). How self efficacy and planning predict dietary behaviors in Costa Rican and South Korean wome. A moderated mediation analysis. Applied Psychology: Health & Well-Being, 1, 91-104.
Hale, J., Householder, B. & Greene, K. (2002). The theory of reasoned action. In Dillard, J & Pfau, M, The persuasion handbook: Developments in theory and practice. Thousand Oaks. Sage.
Miller, K. (2005). Communication theories: perspectives, processes and contexts. New York. McGraw-Hill.
Schwarzer, R. (2008). Modeling health behavior change. How to predict and modify the adoption and maintenance of health behaviors. Applied psychology: An international review. 57(1), 1-32.
