Laura is the first in her family to attend college. She comes from a poor family in a bad neighborhood, where most teens and young adults never attend college. Still, she has a strong sense that she has what it takes to succeed. After becoming very stressed, Laura does poorly on an exam and wonders if attending college was a mistake. Which component of self-efficacy does this describe?
Explanation
Answer: D - Emotional state refers to the way a person is feeling emotionally. A positive emotional state can boost self-efficacy, while a negative emotional state can damage it. Self-efficacy refers to an individual’s belief in their ability to achieve a goal. In this example, Laura strongly believes in her own abilities to successfully complete college. People with high self-efficacy, such as Laura, often put forth great effort to meet their goals. On the other hand, individuals with low self-efficacy often put forth less effort, and avoid situations where they believe they cannot be successful. In this example, stress leads to a poor performance for Laura and undermines her self-efficacy.
