Mike Wheeler's Self-Efficacy Explained

In this week's blog posting, we will be analyzing how Mike Wheeler's self-efficacy plays out in Stranger Things. Self-efficacy, put simply, is the belief someone has about their own ability to succeed or carry out at a particular task. In other words, it is the confidence someone has in being able to do something successfully. 

    

    Sources of Self-Efficacy 

    Before we look at how Mike's self-efficacy changed over time, it is important to first elaborate on the sources of Mike's self-efficacy. One source of self-efficacy for Mike that is perhaps the most displayed in the show is friendships or relationships. Time and time again, Mike's confidence and his belief that he can carry out the tasks he has are constantly being shaped by his friends. For example, in season 1, Mike gets attacked by two school bullies at the quarry near his house until Eleven shows up and defeats the bullies using her powers. This moment is pivotal in the show since we see Eleven using her powers to fight off the bullies in a combative way, and too because Mike gains emotional reassurance that he and his friends are not alone. Because of this, the ultimate goal of finding Will and the confidence for it increased. In the end, Mike's self-efficacy increased because he now trusts Eleven to protect him and the group from any potential obstacles, so his confidence in his belief of finding Will also increased.

    Another source of Mike's self-efficacy comes from his past successes. Throughout the show, we see Mike's confidence and self-efficacy increase when something he plans goes right, as this makes him believe he can actually make a difference through his actions. One of the first instances of this comes from the second and third episode of season 1 after Mike and his crew discover Eleven in the woods at night. Mike decides to bring Eleven in and hide him in his basement to avoid detection from his parents and give her a place to stay. Mike is at first very anxious and not confident that he will be able to hide Eleven successfully temporarily, but he winds up being able to and not get caught. Mike being able to successfully hide away Eleven increased his self-efficacy and confidence in his belief of being able to obscure and conceal Eleven for the future. This increased self-efficacy shows up later when he tells his Dustin and Lucas that he can hide away Eleven indefinitely, showing his increased confidence in obscuring Eleven from the authorities. This change in Mike's self-efficacy is noteworthy since before he was not even sure if Eleven could last one night in his house without getting caught.

Mike's Self-Efficacy Over Time 

In the first season especially, Mike self-efficacy is seen as constantly growing and improving since he has numerous mastery experiences and emotional support. During the second season of this show, as seen in the first episode of season 2, Eleven is gone and nobody knows where she is. Not only is Mike depressed his friend is gone, his self-efficacy also drops. Mike relied very heavily on Eleven in season 1 for protection and guidance, and now that she is gone, he feels like after telling Lucas in a scene in that first episode, that he cannot protect the group. Thus, if something in the future were to occur again, Eleven is not there so thus Mike feels like he cannot do anything. Later on at the very end of this season however, Eleven returns and we see a dramatic turn in Mike self-efficacy. At this point in the show, the main goal of each individual is to destroy the gate that leads to the Upside Down at the bottom of Hawkins Laboratory. As the group is storming Hawkins Laboratory to destroy the upside down gate, Eleven returns to help the group. After Eleven returns and shows her presence to Mike and the others, Mike's confidence and self-efficacy in being able to now carry out the goal of destroying the gate increases because of the emotional reassurance of having Eleven's protection and fighting. Mike's self-efficacy also increases in this scene too because of the vicarious experiences he has had of seeing Eleven use her powers to fight other worldly creatures.

Mike's Self-Efficacy Influence on Goal Striving 

As Mike's self-efficacy increases and decreases throughout the show, it plays an influence on his goals and motivation. Like mentioned, Eleven leaves and is gone for most of season 2, leaving Mike alone and frustrated. Because Mike now has lower self efficacy due to him thinking he cannot protect himself and others as much, Mike goals of protection and helping others actually decreases too. This lack of confidence is apparent in one scene of episode 2 season 2 where Mike states that he is unmotivated to want to explore the grounds of Hawkins anymore since Eleven is not there. This example and many more show the importance of how self efficacy influences goal striving. When Mike had self-efficacy like in the first season, his goals of finding Will and keeping those safe were higher and he was more motivated since he had Eleven to support. Now that Eleven is gone and Mike and his friends are alone, he feels less motivated to try and keep those around him safe.

Mike's Growth and Fixed Mindsets

Growth and fixed mindsets also play a pivotal role for Mike. Growth mindsets are defined as mindsets where an individual believes that intelligence and abilities can change and be improved through effort. Fixed mindsets on the other hand emphasize that intelligence and abilities cannot change are therefore static. 

Throughout season 1 especially, Mike demonstrates more of a growth than fixed mindset due to his persistence, diligence, and effort in trying to accomplish his goals and do the right thing. One thing I have not mentioned yet is the constant dismissal from older adults about Will's disappearance and what really happened to him. For example, both Mike's mom and dad both do not believe something actually bad happened to him and do not want Mike trying to find him or do anything else since he is just a "kid". Even with his own family against him, Mike demonstrates persistence however in trying to find Will, believing that even if he does not get help from his parents, he can get help from his friends Dustin, Lucas, and now Eleven. This example ultimately serves an example of a growth mindset because Mike does not see him being young as a boundary, and that he can influence the situation through effort and collaboration with others. If Mike had a fixed mindset, in this situation he would think "I'm just a kid, I can't possibly help Will."