Which statement best defines self-efficacy?

• A. The belief in one's own ability to complete tasks and reach goals
• B. The extent to which individuals believe they can control events affecting them
• C. The tendency toward and degree to which an individual experiences negative emotions
• D. Overall judgment and attitude of self-worth

Answer: (A)

Self-efficacy is the belief in one's own ability to complete tasks and reach goals. It comes from social cognitive theory and centers on perceived capability to organize and execute the actions needed to manage future situations. This belief shapes how people set goals, choose challenges, persist through obstacles, and bounce back from setbacks. When someone has high self-efficacy, they approach difficult tasks with confidence, put in effort, endure challenges, and recover from failures because they trust what they can do.

Other concepts describe related ideas but are not the same. Belief about controlling events points to locus of control or perceived control, which is about whether outcomes are seen as the result of one’s own actions or external forces. A tendency toward negative emotions refers to negative affect or emotional state, not one’s confidence in task performance. Self-esteem is the overall judgment of self-worth, a broader self-evaluation that isn’t specific to task capability.