"Dude Perfect " Trick-Shot Videos: Exploring the Effect of Self-Efficacy, Awe, and Admiration on Grit

Perseverance is highly correlated with personal success. The present study uses popular trick-shot videos from the Dude Perfect YouTube channel to investigate the effects of online videos on self-perception of perseverance (i.e., grit). Two models are explored: the first one takes a traditional social cognitive theory approach and proposes that watching a video showing a model demonstrating perseverance would increase self-efficacy regarding goal pursuit and subsequently increase feelings of grit. The second model proposes that watching a video where individuals are immediately successful would inspire feelings of awe and admiration among viewers, thus increasing grit. Results demonstrate support only for the second model, showing that awe and admiration (and not self-efficacy) mediated the relationship between trick-shot videos and grit. These results suggest that exposure to successful trick-shot videos can lead to beneficial personal outcomes.