Self-Esteem and Self-Efficacy.html

Self-Esteem and Self-Efficacy

George Bailey (played by James Stewart in the movie It's a Wonderful Life) was the chief executive officer of an inherited loan company (Bailey Saving and Loan) that operated during the Great Depression. The financial company provided loans to people to build and buy homes. George grew up helping others. He was well liked and respected in the community. It could be said that he proved to be a leader in the community. However, throughout the movie, George questioned his abilities, especially when he watched his brother becoming a war hero after going to college and his best friend becoming a rich plastics manufacturer. James Stewart captured the emotions of a man going through life with intensity and a sense of low self-esteem—a man who, at times, did not believe he could make ends meet and run the company.

Self-esteem is "a person's overall self-evaluation or sense of self-worth" (Myers, 2008). According to Wojciszke and Struzynska-Kujalowicz (2007), power and self-esteem go together. Strong and effective leadership is positively correlated with not only high self-esteem but also an internal locus of control. In the case of George Bailey, there were other factors that seemed to interfere with his self-esteem and self-efficacy. Let’s discuss the factors that shaped George's behavior.

Myers, D. (2008). Social psychology (9th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

 Wojciszke, B., & Struzynska-Kujalowicz, A. (2007). Power influences self-esteem. Social Cognition, 25(4), 472–494.