Final answer:
Professor Wagner's statement is an example of the fundamental attribution error, where the professor blames personal characteristics over situational factors for the class's performance. Jane has an external locus of control, attributing her poor grade to her professor's dislike rather than her own actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Professor Wagner's belief that her psychology class performed poorly on their midterm exam due to laziness and lack of study is an example of the fundamental attribution error. This concept refers to the tendency for individuals to overemphasize personal characteristics and underestimate situational factors when explaining others' behavior. For example, instead of considering factors like the exam's difficulty or students' potential external stressors, the professor attributes the poor performance to students' character flaws.
Jane's belief that she got a bad grade on her psychology paper because her professor doesn't like her most likely indicates an external locus of control. She attributes her grade to external circumstances rather than her own actions. Conversely, if she believed her grade was due to her lack of effort or study, it would indicate an internal locus of control, where she sees outcomes as directly resulting from her efforts.
Examples of other relevant psychological concepts include the self-fulfilling prophecy, where expectations influence behaviors that make the expectations come true, and the confirmation bias, where individuals seek out information that supports their existing beliefs.