Self-esteem, Self-efficacy and Locus of Control: predictors of leadership in the context of confirmation of the Brazilian Army Officer
Leadership, Military Leadership, Self-Esteem, Self-Efficacy, Locus of Control.
This study aimed to: (a) investigate the influence of self-esteem, self-efficacy and locus of control on self-assessment of leadership; (b) investigate which socio-emotional skills (behaviors and attributes) are associated with the military leadership of the officer (captains and lieutenants) and organize them into an instrument to measure the self-assessment of military leadership. This is a cross-sectional field research in the composition of the sample, carried out in the 2021/22 biennium, set at the Academia Militar das Agulhas Negras (AMAN), with the participation of cadets from the 4th and 5th years of the training course for officers of the Brazilian Army (n = 366). The following research instruments were used: a) Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale, b) the General Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale, c) Levenson's Locus of Control Scale, d) and Moreno's Sociometric Test. The applied methodology relied on qualitative and quantitative collection and analysis techniques, derived from Grounded Theory and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). Among the research results, there is the development of a military leadership self-assessment scale. Exploratory Factor Analysis of the instrument showed satisfactory rates (KMO= 0.93; p< 0.01), leaving the scale systematized in 4 factors, which explain 41% of the variance. The factors group transversal competencies associated with military leadership. Regarding the main objectives, the data indicate that there is a significant positive correlation between the constructs self-esteem, self-efficacy and the leadership self-assessment scale (level 0.01). The externality locus of control (Chance and Powerful) presents significant negative correlations (level 0.01) with the transversal competences measured by factors 2, 3 and 4 of the scale. There are significant differences (0.05 level) in assessments of self-esteem, self-efficacy, and externality locus of control (Chance) as a function of military specialty (base weapon/support weapon).