10.1 Self-Esteem and Self-Efficacy

Self-esteem and self-efficacy shape how kids view themselves during middle childhood. These concepts influence a child's confidence, motivation, and ability to tackle challenges head-on.

As kids grow, they develop more realistic self-views. Positive experiences, supportive relationships, and a sense of control over their lives help build healthy self-esteem and strong self-efficacy beliefs.

Self-Concept and Self-Esteem

Components of Self-Esteem

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• Self-esteem refers to an individual's overall positive evaluation of the self
• Global self-worth is the general feeling of being satisfied with oneself and viewing oneself as a good person
• Domain-specific self-esteem involves evaluations of the self in particular areas (academics, social relationships, physical appearance)
• Self-concept is the set of beliefs one has about oneself and one's attributes, which includes self-esteem
• Social comparison involves evaluating one's abilities, opinions, and attributes in relation to those of others (classmates, siblings, friends)

Development of Self-Esteem in Middle Childhood

• Children's self-esteem becomes more stable and realistic during middle childhood as they develop cognitive skills to consider multiple aspects of the self simultaneously
• Parenting styles influence children's self-esteem development
  • Authoritative parenting (warm, responsive, and demanding) is associated with higher self-esteem
  • Authoritarian parenting (cold, unresponsive, and demanding) is associated with lower self-esteem
• Positive social interactions with peers and success in academics and extracurricular activities contribute to higher self-esteem
• Negative experiences such as bullying, academic difficulties, and social rejection can lead to lower self-esteem

Self-Efficacy and Mastery

Understanding Self-Efficacy

• Self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments
• Mastery experiences, in which individuals succeed at challenging tasks, are the most effective way to build self-efficacy
• Vicarious experiences, such as observing others succeed, can also increase self-efficacy by demonstrating that success is possible
• Verbal persuasion from others, such as encouragement and support, can boost self-efficacy
• Physiological and emotional states, such as stress and anxiety, can influence self-efficacy beliefs

Locus of Control and Mastery Orientation

• Locus of control refers to the extent to which individuals believe they can control events affecting them
  • Internal locus of control is the belief that one's own actions determine outcomes
  • External locus of control is the belief that outside forces (luck, fate, powerful others) determine outcomes
• Mastery orientation is the belief that effort and practice can improve one's abilities and lead to success
• Children with an internal locus of control and a mastery orientation are more likely to persist in the face of challenges and develop higher self-efficacy
• Parents and teachers can foster a mastery orientation by praising effort and improvement rather than innate ability and by providing opportunities for children to learn from mistakes