Self-efficacy and confidence: Vealey’s Model of self-confidence.

The idea

Vealey's model explains self-confidence in sport as a dynamic interaction between the performer and their environment. Objective sport situations, such as the level of opposition or the importance of the event, combine with the performer's personality, including their trait confidence and competitive orientation, to shape the behaviour shown. That behaviour produces a subjective outcome, meaning the performer's own perception of how well they performed, and this perception feeds back to influence future confidence. The model also distinguishes trait sport confidence, a stable general tendency, from state sport confidence, the belief felt in a particular moment. A tennis player facing a higher-ranked opponent may enter with lower state confidence, but winning a close set produces a positive subjective outcome that raises confidence for the next match.

What earns the marks

• The model links the objective sport situation and the performer's personality as inputs to confidence and behaviour.
• Objective sport situation includes factors such as the level of competition and the importance of the event.
• Personality includes trait sport confidence and competitive orientation, which influence how the performer responds.
• Behaviour produces a subjective outcome, the performer's perception of performance, which feeds back to shape future confidence.
• The model distinguishes trait sport confidence, a stable disposition, from state sport confidence, the confidence experienced in a specific moment.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Treating the model as a one-way sequence from situation to confidence.

  Put it right: The subjective outcome feeds back to influence future confidence, so the process is cyclical.

• Confusing trait and state sport confidence.

  Put it right: Trait confidence is a stable general tendency, while state confidence is the belief felt in a particular situation, so the two should not be used interchangeably.

• Assuming the objective situation alone determines confidence.

  Put it right: The performer's personality, including competitive orientation, also shapes how the situation is interpreted.

Exam tips

• Use a labelled diagram or clear sequence when describing the model, showing the feedback loop from subjective outcome back to confidence.
• Define trait and state sport confidence before applying them, so the distinction is explicit in your answer.
• Apply the model to one named sport and situation, such as a footballer taking a penalty, to show how each component interacts.