Final answer:
The statement is true: self-efficacy refers to the belief in one's ability to accomplish a goal or modify one's behavior. High self-efficacy is associated with positive attitudes towards challenges, while low self-efficacy may lead to avoidance of difficult tasks and focus on negative outcomes. This belief affects how individuals confront challenges and their persistence when facing adversity.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, Self-efficacy is indeed the belief in one's ability to accomplish a goal or change a behavior. This concept was introduced by Albert Bandura, emphasizing that motivation is largely derived from the belief that one can successfully perform the behavior required to produce the outcomes desired. High self-efficacy leads to a positive view of challenges, increased interest in activities, and resilience in the face of setbacks. Conversely, low self-efficacy may result in avoidance of challenging tasks, focus on potential failures, and a diminished sense of personal ability after encountering difficulties.
Self-efficacy influences behaviors, goals, and personal motivation because it shapes the ways in which individuals approach challenges and how they rebound from failures. For instance, a student with high self-efficacy in a particular subject will pursue higher levels of challenge and persist in the face of difficulties, improving both learning and performance.
Prominent needs theorist Abraham Maslow identified motivations ranging from biological to social needs, whereas psychologists like Henry Murray evaluated social motives such as the needs for achievement, affiliation, and intimacy. In the educational setting, a student's self-efficacy can differ across subjects, such as feeling capable in English yet less assured in mathematics.