SELF EFFICACY,

EMPATHY AND
GRATITUDE
AN OVERVIEW
SELF EFFICACY
It is your belief in your ability to solve a problem, reach a goal, complete a task,
and achieve what you set out to do.
EMPATHY
Empathy is, awareness of the feelings and emotions of other people.
GRATITUDE
The quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return
kindness.
 SELF-EFFICACY

Presented by – Annchit Bhatnagar

INTRODUCTION TO SELF-EFFICACY

◦ Self-Efficacy is the belief in one’s ability to

succeed in achieving an outcome or
reaching a goal. This belief, specific to a task
or an area of knowledge or performance,
shapes the behaviors and strategies that
help one pursue their goal.
DEFINITION OF SELF-EFFICACY
◦ Self-efficacy is, according to psychologist Albert Bandura who
originally proposed the concept, a personal judgment of "how
well one can execute courses of action required to deal with
prospective situations".
◦ Expectations of self-efficacy determine whether an individual will
be able to exhibit coping behavior and how long effort will be
sustained in the face of obstacles.
◦ Individuals who have high self-efficacy will exert sufficient effort
that, if well executed, leads to successful outcomes, whereas
those with low self-efficacy are likely to cease effort early and fail.
Factors influencing self-efficacy
◦ Performance experience
refers to one’s previous and related experiences, which
can influence their perception of whether or not one has
the competence to perform the task at hand. This tends
to be what influences self-efficacy the most. • For
example, Alex feels more confident about preparing a
great science fair project this year, after having placed in
the top 3 at last year’s fair.
◦ Vicarious experience
refers to the observed performances and experiences
of others like oneself in a similar situation. • For example,
although public speaking makes her nervous, Angela
feels better about her upcoming speech to the student
body after having watched her best friend deliver a
speech that was well-received by their peers.
◦ Social persuasion
refers to verbal encouragement or
discouragement about a person’s ability to perform.
Typically, the more credible the source, the more
impact this source is likely to have on a person’s self-
efficacy. • For example, when John’s teacher
reminds him how much John has improved his writing
since the beginning of the year, new writing
assignments seem less daunting.
◦ Imaginal experience
refers to a person’s use of their imagination to
envision his or her success at a task. • For example,
before her match, Karen visualizes herself making the
plays her soccer team has successfully used before
to feel more confident about her ability to defeat
their opponents at this upcoming game.
◦ Physical and emotional states refers to how one experiences
physical sensations and emotional states when facing the task or
challenge. • For example, Nick feels anxious before the band
recital, but he takes a moment to breathe and reframe this
emotion as excitement to perform before his family and friends.
He finds that this helps him to feel better about how he will do in
his performance.
EFFECTS OF SELF-EFFICACY
A theoretical model of the effect of self-efficacy
on transgressive behavior was developed and verified in
research with school children.
◦ Prosociality and moral disengagement
Prosocial behavior (such as helping others, sharing, and
being kind and cooperative) and moral
disengagement (manifesting in behaviors such as making
excuses for bad behavior, avoiding responsibility for
consequences, and blaming the victim) are negatively
correlated. Academic, social, and self-regulatory self-
efficacy encourages prosocial behavior, and thus helps
prevent moral disengagement.
◦ Over-efficaciousness in learning
In certain circumstances, lower self-efficacy can
be helpful. One study examined foreign language
students' beliefs about learning, goal attainment,
and motivation to continue with language study. It
was concluded that over-efficaciousness negatively
affected student motivation, so that students who
believed they were "good at languages" had less
motivation to study.
◦ Health behavior change
Social-cognitive models of health behavior change
cast self-efficacy as predictor, mediator, or
moderator. As a predictor, self-efficacy is supposed
to facilitate the forming of behavioral intentions, the
development of action plans, and the initiation of
action. As mediator, self-efficacy can help prevent
relapse to unhealthy behavior. As a moderator, self-
efficacy can support the translation of intentions into
action. See Health action process approach.
ENHANCING YOUR SELF EFFICACY
1. The first step is to set a series of ever more difficult goals; the
accomplishment of each enhances the belief that we can
achieve the next. This creates an experience of mastery,
which is the foundation of a strong sense of self-belief.
2. The second step is to identify a model to which we aspire,
such as one or more people living with Parkinson’s who are
managing their Parkinson’s well. Seeing others in a similar
situation succeed through their own determined efforts raises
the belief that we, too, can overcome the specific
challenges we face.
3. The third step is to seek out positive reinforcement and
encouragement, which strengthens our belief that we have
what it takes to succeed. This approach is being used in the
Parkinson’s Self-Efficacy Learning Forum (PD SELF) programs
now being conducted in ten different metropolitan areas in
the US.
Empathy
What is empathy.?

Empathy is the capacity to understand or feel what another person is

experiencing from within their frame of reference, that is, the capacity to
place oneself in another's position.
Compassion, Sympathy and Empathy.

 Compassion and sympathy are terms associated with empathy. Definitions

vary, contributing to the challenge of defining empathy. Compassion is
often defined as an emotion we feel when others are in need, which
motivates us to help them. Sympathy is a feeling of care and
understanding for someone in need.
Pity and Emotional Contagion

 Empathy is distinct also from pity and emotional contagion. Pity is a feeling
that one feels towards others that might be in trouble or in need of help as
they cannot fix their problems themselves, often described as "feeling sorry"
for someone. Emotional contagion is when a person (especially an infant or
a member of a mob) imitatively "catches" the emotions that others are
showing without necessarily recognizing this is happening.
Classification

 Affective empathy
Also called emotional empathy. The capacity to respond with an appropriate
emotion to another's mental states. Our ability to empathize emotionally is
based on emotional contagion being affected by another's emotional or
arousal state. Psychopaths and narcissists lack Affective Empathy.
 Cognitive empathy
The capacity to understand another's perspective or mental state. A person
with bi-polar disorder or borderline trait show lack of cognitive empathy.
 Somatic
Somatic empathy is a physical reaction, probably based on mirror neuron
responses, in the somatic nervous system.
Ethical Issues -:

 Empathic recognition may or may not be welcomed or socially desirable.

This is particularly the case where we recognize the emotions that someone
has towards us during real time interactions. The appropriate role of
empathy in our dealings with others is highly dependent on the
circumstances. Clinicians or caregivers must be objective to the emotions
of others, to not over-invest their own emotions for the other, at the risk
of draining away their own resourcefulness. Furthermore, an awareness of
the limitations of empathic accuracy is prudent in a caregiving situation.
Development

 Environmental Influence
 Genetics
Carriers of the deletion variant of ADRA2B show more activation of the
amygdala when viewing emotionally arousing images. The gene 5-
HTTLPR seems to determine sensitivity to negative emotional information and is
also attenuated by the deletion variant of ADRA2b. Carriers of the double G
variant of the OXTR gene were found to have better social skills and higher
self-esteem. A gene located near LRRN1 on chromosome 3 then again
controls the human ability to read, understand and respond to emotions in
others.
 Gender
Measurement

 The Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) is the only published measurement

tool to date that accounts for a multi-dimensional assessment of empathy.
It comprises a self-report questionnaire of 28 items, divided into four 7-item
scales covering the above subdivisions of affective and cognitive empathy.
Empathy in animals

 An increasing number of studies in animal

behavior and neuroscience indicate that empathy is not restricted to
humans, and is in fact as old as the mammals, or perhaps older. Examples
include dolphins saving humans from drowning or from shark attacks.
 Reports of cetaceans having three times as many spindle cells—the nerve
cells that convey empathy—in their brains as we do might mean these
highly-social animals have a great awareness of one another's feelings.
Signs -:

 Frequently finding oneself in prolonged arguments

 Forming opinions early and defending them vigorously
 Thinking that other people are overly sensitive
 Refusing to listen to other points of view
 Blaming others for mistakes
 Not listening when spoken to
 Holding grudges and having difficulty to forgive
 Inability to work in a team
How to be more empathetic.

 Challenge yourself
 Walk in others shoes
GRATITUDE

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more.
If you concentrate on what you don’t have; you’ll never have enough ”
―Oprah Winfrey
WHAT IS GRATITUDE?

Many of us express Gratitude by saying “Thank You” to some one who has helped us or
given us a gift. From a scientific perspective however gratitude have a deeper meaning.
It is a deeper appreciation for someone which have a long lasting effect.
In summary gratitude is a positive emotion felt after being beneficiary of some sort of help
or gift. It is also a social emotion directed towards or felt towards a higher power.
 KEY SYNONYMS

There are many synonyms of gratitude,

including:

• acknowledgment; • praise;
• appreciativeness; • recognition;
• grace; • requital;
• gracefulness; • responsiveness;
• gratefulness; • thankfulness.
PURPOSE OF THIS EMOTION

People can use gratitude to form new social relations or

to strengthen current ones.
Acts of gratitude can be used to apologize, make amends
and help solve other problems.
Alternatively, people may feel gracious because it can be
an intrinsically rewarding process. Simply being grateful
for being alive is a great way to motivate oneself to seize
the day.
 RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL PERSPECTIVES
ON GRATITUDE
Unsurprisingly, religious and spiritual movements have explored gratitude too. Theravāda Buddhism, Christianity,
Islam, and Judaism are some of the main religions with writings on this (Berkwitz, 2003; Emmons & Crumpler, 2000).
For example, in Judaism, followers of Yahweh are encouraged to start every day by being grateful for waking up again
(Emmons & Crumpler, 2000).
For Islam, the purpose of the five daily prayers is not to ask Allah for anything, but instead, to show gratitude towards
Allah (Emmons & Crumpler, 2000). These three religions offer a unique role of gratitude, and overall, one of thanks
for this existence and who created it.
In the older writings of Theravāda Buddhism, gratitude connects practitioners to their pasts (Berkwitz, 2003). Today,
gratitude and the concept of karma is a driving force behind philanthropic Buddhism in China (Kuah-Pearce, 2014).
MODERN PSYCHOLOGICAL
PERSPECTIVES ON GRATITUDE
More recently, positive psychology has expanded research on the importance of
gratitude, led by researcher Robert Emmons.
Emmons published several papers on the psychology of gratitude, showing that
being more grateful can lead to increased levels of well-being (Emmons &
Crumpler, 2000). Some of Emmons’s work has also dealt specifically with gratitude
in a religious setting, highlighting how feeling grateful towards a higher power may
lead to increased physical health (Krause et al., 2015).
Here is an overview of some recent psychological findings related to the study of
gratitude:
1. Enhanced Well-being
Expressing your thanks can improve your overall sense of well-being. Grateful people
are more agreeable, more open.
Furthermore, gratitude is related inversely to depression, and positively to life
satisfaction (Wood, Joseph, & Maltby, 2008).

2. Improved Optimism
Dr. Emmons and Dr. McCullough did a study in 2003 exploring the impact of
practicing gratitude. After 10 weeks, their research conveys that people who focused
on gratitude showed more optimism in many areas of their lives, including health and
exercise.
3. Increased Happiness
Toepfer, Cichy, and Peters (2011) conducted a study
asking people to write and deliver a letter to someone
for whom they were grateful. After the task, their
happiness levels and life satisfaction were dramatically
impacted— and lasted even weeks later.

4. Stronger Self-Control
Self-Control helps with discipline and focus. Long-term well-being can benefit from self-
control, for example, resisting nicotine in cigarettes for someone who is trying to quit
smoking..
A study found that self-control significantly increased when subjects chose gratitude over
happiness or feeling neutral. Study concluded that:
“Showing that emotion can foster self-control and discovering a way to reduce impatience.
With a simple gratitude exercise tremendous amounts of societal ills can be reduced.”
5. Deeper Relationships
Gratitude is also a powerful tool for strengthening
interpersonal relationships. People who express their
gratitude for each other tend to be more willing to
forgive others and less narcissistic (DeShea, 2003;
Farwell & Wohlwend-Lloyd, 1998).

6. Better Physical and Mental Health

Research performed in 2015 showed that patients with heart failure who
completed gratitude journals showed reduced inflammation, improved sleep, and
better moods; this reduced their symptoms of heart failure after only 8 weeks.
The link between the mind-body connection aligns with how gratitude can have a
double benefit. For example, the feeling of appreciation helps us to have healthier
minds, and with that healthier bodies.
THE EFFECTS OF GRATITUDE

1. Individual Effects
In a study by McCraty and colleagues (1998), 45 adults were taught to “cultivate appreciation
and other positive emotions.”
The results of this study showed that there was a mean 23% reduction in the stress hormone
cortisol after the intervention period. During the use of the techniques, 80% of the participants
exhibited an increased coherence in heart rate variability patterns, indicating reduced stress.
In other words, these findings suggest that people with an “attitude of gratitude” experience
lower levels of stress.
2. Social Effects
Gratitude can be observed at social level, with its subsequent effects, along with at individual levels.
The recipient of gratitude may not reciprocate directly back, but in turn, may lend a favor to a third
party, effectively expanding a network of good (Chang, Lin, & Chen, 2011). Sometimes, the recipient
may give back to the initiator as well.
For example; If you express your gratitude towards a person, he may not return the thing
immediately but the positivity that you imparted will remain there. Next time whenever something
good happens to him, he won’t hesitate to express his gratitude to the third party and it creates a
kind of positive loop.
CASE STUDY ON
SELF EFFICACY

PRESENTED BY – EIDIT SHARMA

(62) & UJJAWAL PANDEY (66)
RESOURCES

– “Social Learning Theory” (1971) by –

Albert Bandura , American Psychologist.
– Google Scholar.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
– Albert Bandura OC is a Canadian-American psychologist who is a
Professor in Psychology at Stanford University.

– Bandura has been responsible for contributions to the field of

education and to several fields of psychology, including social
cognitive theory, therapy, and personality psychology, and was
also of influence in the transition between behaviorism and
cognitive psychology. He is known as the originator of social
learning theory (renamed the social cognitive theory) and the
theoretical construct of self-efficacy, and is also responsible for
the influential 1961 Bobo doll experiment. This Bobo doll
experiment demonstrated the concept of observational learning.
 THE CASE

Jane is an individual who receives services for Intellectual Disabilities.

She lives in a group home and attends a day program. Jane’s behaviour
has been severe lately, putting a strain on the providers. There are also
several Dual Diagnosis interventions that she is undergoing, which are
being used in both her home and day program settings. The dual
diagnosis team looks at all the supports Jane receives such as
medication, extra staffing behavioural interventions, and medical
interventions (like treatment for pain).
– The agency that provides Jane with at home, as well as medical care, is currently
experiencing a greater amount of success supporting her. Although there have been
injuries to the staff within the home, they appear to be more confident about their
capacity to serve Jane, as well as in their ability to use the interventions. The day
program, however, appears to have no confidence in either their ability to apply the
interventions or with the interventions themselves. This has left them open to more
injuries from maladaptive behaviour. Generally, in both agencies, staff members only
possess a high school education and receive pay in the amount of about nine dollars an
hour. Unfortunately, turnover is relatively high in Human Services, although it seems even
more frequent within the day program. Both programs are run by Program Specialists
with a Bachelor’s degree and specialized training.
– Both programs have vital positions that help make them
successful. An additional position is provided by multiple
concerned authorities. One of the roles of Supports
Coordination (SC) is to make sure that the individuals’
support is positive and effective; making sure that the
interventions used for Jane’s behavior were implemented
positively and correctly exemplifies the Self-Efficacy theory.
DEVELOPM
ENT OF
SELF
EFFICACY
ANALYSIS

– According to Bandura, “people's perceptions of their efficacy influence the types of

anticipatory scenarios they construct and reiterate. When the Supports Coordinator used the
Self-efficacy theory to evaluate how the day program was working with Jane, the following
aspects were shown:
– Self-Efficacy Magnitude: Both programs believe they can provide the appropriate level of care
for Jane. However, the day program finds the difficulty level to be higher, causing them greater
concern with regard to how successful they will be in implementing the interventions.
– Vicarious Experiences: The staff at the day program are seeing negative experiences with
Jane and are afraid to work with her.

In order to resolve this situation, the coordinator, with the help of the Clinical Psychologist,
is able to model positive interventions and shares positive experiences with Jane. This
allows employees to gain positive vicarious experiences and boost their self-efficacy.
– Self-Efficacy Strength: This is an area where the day provider needs help. They do not
seem to strongly believe that they can support Jane in a one-on-one environment. In order
to resolve this concern, the SC held a meeting with the day provider to find out what help
they needed in order to be able to provide the one-on-one support, including extra
training.
CONCLUSION
– Self-efficacy is something inherent within all people and it
drives us to participate and excel in whatever activities we may
choose, including school, work, or personal development. A
little confidence in our abilities can go a long way, and any
hinderance in self-efficacy can have widespread and sometimes
damaging effects. As demonstrated by the case study, a lack of
self-efficacy hindered an entire team’s ability to perform its job
duties. By examining performance outcomes, verbal persuasion,
and vicarious experiences, self-efficacy was able to be restored
and job performance improved.
THANK YOU