Final answer:
The student likely has an external locus of control, believing that their outcomes are outside of their control and attributing their poor performance to external factors like tricky questions given by the professor.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student in question most likely has an external locus of control. This means that they believe their outcomes are outside of their control, often attributing their success or failure to external factors such as luck or the behavior of others.
An example of this would be if the student says they didn't do well on the test because the professor gave tricky questions rather than acknowledging their efforts or preparation. This mindset suggests that they perceive the professor's behavior as the cause of their poor performance, rather than taking responsibility for their study habits or test-taking skills.
Research has shown that individuals with an external locus of control often perform worse academically and have less motivation to improve because they believe their efforts will not make a significant impact on their outcomes.