Lady Bird's Self-Efficacy

    
This week, I will providing an analysis of Lady Bird's sense of self-efficacy. Before I continue, I'd like to define some key terms I'll be using throughout my analysis. The definitions provided  below are derived from  Johnmarshall Reeve's Understanding Motivation and Emotion (5th Edition). 

Self-Efficacy: The extent to which one perceives they can cope with a situation given the skills they already possess. 

Perceived Control: The extent to which one perceives they can control the outcome of a given situation.

A general model of perceived control is as follows: Self (Agent) - > Action (Means) - > Control (ends).

Cognitive Hope (agency & pathways): Agency refers to someone's efficacy in their capacity to achieve a desired outcome. Pathways refers to the belief that there are multiple, and controllable ways to achieve that outcome. 

Ex) "I'll find a way to get this done"

Lady Bird is a dynamic, and complex character. She is rebellious, outspoken, and has a strong sense of self. Lady Bird's dream is to leave Sacramento for the East Coast, and she has a lot of motivation to do so. This motivation is driven by Lady Bird's self-efficacy to graduate high-school, and attend a university in New York. Lady Bird constantly hears that she does not have the abilities to leave Sacramento, both from her family and from her teachers. In spite of this, her determination never waivers. In other words, her self-efficacy remains rather consistent throughout the movie. She sticks to what she believes and holds strong to her dreams. Lady Bird knows she has what it takes to graduate from high-school, and move across the country. She does not need validation from others because she receives it from herself. Most of Lady Bird's self-efficacy comes from personal behavior history, as well as psychological state.

In one scene, we watch a school assembly, and the topic is abortion. In true Lady Bird fashion, she makes a remark towards the speaker, expressing her views on abortion. Due to the nature of the school, Lady Bird is suspended. As a result, she received a long lecture from her mom about how Lady Bird is not grateful for everything her family has done for her. This leads to Lady Bird and her mother getting into an argument about how much money her parents have spent on her to attend a private school. The pivotal moment in this scene is when Marion says Lady Bird has thrown away her one opportunity for a successful future. 

In this scene, we watch as Lady Bird acts out, and feels no remorse. She is unapologetically honest about how she feels, which enrages her mother. Despite the hurtful remarks her mother makes, Lady Bird still has a strong sense of perceived control. Her mother's opinions have no impact on Lady Bird's dreams, because Lady Bird will do whatever she believes to be right. She knows she has the ability to take the actions necessary to achieve her dreams. 

This scene is also a prime example of cognitive hope (agency & pathways). Understandably so, Marion's words have a large impact on Lady Bird's emotions. The two often end up having heated emotional arguments. However, Lady Bird does not let the lack of support from her mother deter her from her dreams. Even without her mother's support, she knows she will find a way to end up on the East Coast. As Reeve writes, "hope follows from knowing that one has more pathways to a goal than the environment has to block it" (Reeve, 2009). Although Lady Bird experienced many setbacks, her sense of self-efficacy stood strong. Eventually, the viewers watch as Lady Bird obtains her driver's license, and moved to New York, accomplishing her dreams.