In Chapter 9, we discussed personal control beliefs and the importance of self-efficacy. Self-efficacy beliefs come from personal behavior history, vicarious experiences, verbal persuasion, and physiological states (Reeve, 2009, p. 241). These beliefs can be changed and acquired, and predict coping methods the individual will utilize called "competent functioning" or "personal empowerment." Improved self-efficacy expectations provide the cognitive-motivational foundation underlying personal empowerment.
What is empowerment? According to Reeve, "empowerment involves possessing the knowledge, skills, and beliefs that allow people to exert control over their lives." This article considers what we can do to empower other individuals while also improving our own sense of confidence and self-awareness. Helping others achieve their goals is thought to help us get our lives on track as well. The author provides 50 small things we can do to provide the verbal or nonverbal persuasion others may need to boost their self-efficacy just enough to attempt another try. I will briefly sum up the five that stuck out most to me:
1. Give out compliments you mean: anyone can give out a compliment, and it's generally not that difficult to find something that another person would be encouraged by hearing. Direct your compliments to something you've noticed the person does well. When the person later generates an efficacy expectation in a new situation, the likelihood of it being something they believe they are able to accomplish is more prominent. Words of encouragement can change peoples' lives--why are we so stingy on providing them?
2. Listen to others: when others ask for us to listen (directly or indirectly) and we start giving advice, we have not done what they have asked of us. Why is it so difficult for us to simply listen to someone vent their frustrations? When selecting environments, a person may avoid those that seem detrimental as a self-protective act for guarding against the possibility of being overwhelmed by their demands and challenges (Reeve, 2009, p. 237). If you want to be a "safe" person to talk to, provide the environment your acquaintance requires when they seek your help. You never know, you may need their listening ears in the near future as well!
3. Smile more often: "A smile confuses an approaching frown." Reeve tells us that "vicarious experience involves observing a model enact the same course of action the performer is about to enact" (Reeve, 2009, p. 235). By being optimistic in a social situation in which others are not, you are raising the efficacy of similar others that are observing you. Greet others with a smile and show them that if you can do it, so can they.
4. Help foster creativity: creativity is becoming harder to come by in our world. Support those who you see creative potential in, and cheer them on in their efforts and persistence. Resiliency in the face of obstacles can be quite a bit easier with your own personal cheerleader.
5. Study psychology: with our backgrounds in psychology, we are all better equipped to reach out to people at the scientific level, but we're also more effective communicating interpersonally. Ever wonder how you would use what you're learning in the real world?
What do you do to empower others? Has someone recently done something to empower you that you would like to share?
A teacher in the past two years here at UNI has really empowered me. She created a learning enviorment that I found to be very helpful for me to understand what she wanted from me as a student. I felt that if I had to go to her she would be there to answer any questions I had. This teacher also, showed me that your beliefs outside of campus does not have to hinder your ability to do a paticular job, if you really enjoy that job. I have never felt that any teacher really enjoyed their material as much as she did, which made me want to learn about it, kind of like her exctiment rubbed off on me.
I also found that she did more class discussions that were open and everyone talked freely. She smiled a lot and did those rephrasing sentences after we talked to make sure she understood where we were coming from, which made me feel like she really cared and listened to what we had to say.
So in all she motivated me to take classes that I would enjoy and have passion with, and I have done so ever since and find myself learning and understanding the material better.
First, a brief critique. A lot of the suggestions are nice things to do for other people, but I'm not sure if it translates directly into empowerment. Each of these things may be a helpful boost, but for example, simply smiling at other people is not likely to empower them in the sense of fulfilling the textbook definition. I guess it could if it makes them happy and provides them with an optimistic, agentic, high self-efficacy belief somehow. I am not saying that these aren't good things that people often do for one another and that they can't help improve a sense of empowerment, just that they can't do this on their own. Also, dishing out advice to others is beneficial only if it is wanted and done in a neutral (not condescending) way. Throwing things in people's faces and expecting that we are helping them can often be counterproductive.
However, simple things like smiling can fall into a sort of emotional contagion where if everyone else is smiling we might do so as well. Also, mentoring someone else can be extremely beneficial for both people involved. Throwing parties with a mixed range of guests is also very interesting to do, because a lot of people you wouldn't expect getting along can become best friends overnight, which is usually positive for everyone. Another suggestion marissa chose that I agree with and try to do often is to listen to others. My roommates often come to me to talk about things they are concerned with simply because I listen to them without immediately judging the situation or making fun of them (which can be really easy sometimes). I'm not sure if simply listening to them really fosters a sense of empowerment for them, but it might give them an opportunity to present their thoughts out loud, which can help them organize and plan their behavior which might be related to self-efficacy or control.
First, a brief critique. A lot of the suggestions are nice things to do for other people, but I'm not sure if it translates directly into empowerment. Each of these things may be a helpful boost, but for example, simply smiling at other people is not likely to empower them in the sense of fulfilling the textbook definition. I guess it could if it makes them happy and provides them with an optimistic, agentic, high self-efficacy belief somehow. I am not saying that these aren't good things that people often do for one another and that they can't help improve a sense of empowerment, just that they can't do this on their own. Also, dishing out advice to others is beneficial only if it is wanted and done in a neutral (not condescending) way. Throwing things in people's faces and expecting that we are helping them can often be counterproductive.
However, simple things like smiling can fall into a sort of emotional contagion where if everyone else is smiling we might do so as well. Also, mentoring someone else can be extremely beneficial for both people involved. Throwing parties with a mixed range of guests is also very interesting to do, because a lot of people you wouldn't expect getting along can become best friends overnight, which is usually positive for everyone. Another suggestion marissa chose that I agree with and try to do often is to listen to others. My roommates often come to me to talk about things they are concerned with simply because I listen to them without immediately judging the situation or making fun of them (which can be really easy sometimes). I'm not sure if simply listening to them really fosters a sense of empowerment for them, but it might give them an opportunity to present their thoughts out loud, which can help them organize and plan their behavior which might be related to self-efficacy or control.