I Think I Can

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I think I can, I think I can, is a famous phrase from a beloved children’s book called The Little Engine That Could. This phrase also emulates what Resnick believes is one of the main pillars of the Theory of Self-Efficacy (2003). Self-efficacy is an individual’s opinion on their ability to complete a task (Resnick 2003). The theory itself is based on previous research into social cognition and states that a person’s thoughts about their capabilities are based on life experiences and environmental factors that directly influence behavior (Resnick 2003). Drawing from this previous research conducted by Albert Bandura, Resnick states that there are four subparts to support the overall theory which include enactive attainment, vicarious experience, verbal persuasion, and physiological feedback (Resnick 2003). All of these pillars add to the individual’s confidence and belief in their own self-efficacy and allow them to not only make goals but attain them (Bandura 1977). These four segments will be analyzed in their own right in order to explain the theory of self-efficacy and how it may be implemented into nursing practice.
Enactive Attainment
Success builds confidence, and continued confidence leads to a belief that when trying a similar activity, success will again be achieved (Resnick 2003). Enactive attainment is this belief of continued success of similar activities after having tried said activity (Bandura 1977). For every person there is a mental barrier when setting goals and trying new things (Resnick 2003). Self-efficacy is not only the ability to set goals for one but also to have the confidence in order to achieve those goals (Bandura 1977). If an individual believes that a goal is achievable but does not think th...

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...f-efficacy and thus more independence.

Works Cited

Bandura, A. (1977). Self-efficacy: Towward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychological Review, 84(2), 191-215.
Logsdon, M. C., Pinto Foltz, M., Scheetz, J., & Myers, J. A. (2010). Self-efficacy and postpartum depression teaching behaviors of hospital-based perinatal nurses. The Journal of Perinatal Education,19(4), 10-16.
Resnick, B. (2003). The theory of self-efficacy. In M. Smith & P. Liehr (Eds.), Middle Range Theory for Nursing (pp. 49-68). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.
Resnick, B., Magaziner, J., Orwig, D., & Zimmerman, S. (2002). Evaluating the components of the exercise plus program: rationale, theory and implementation.Health Education Research, 17(5), 648-658.
Resnick, B. (1998). Efficacy beliefs in geriatric rehabilitation.Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 24(7), 34-44.

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