Final answer:
Self-efficacy influences subsequent behavior through 'a. Prior related behavior', as it is often developed through successful experiences in similar activities, which in turn boost confidence and the likelihood of engaging in that behavior again.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question relates to self-efficacy and its influence on subsequent behavior. Self-efficacy is developed through our social experiences and affects how we approach challenges and goals. It determines the behaviors we choose to imitate and our success in performing those behaviors. According to Albert Bandura's social-cognitive theory, reciprocal determinism plays a part in this process, showing how our behavior, cognitive processes (like self-efficacy), and contextual environment influence each other. In observational learning, a person's level of self-efficacy can lead them to imitate certain behaviors if they believe those actions can be successfully completed based on past achievements or the observation of others' successes.
Answering the student's question, this influence on subsequent behavior through perceived self-efficacy is best encapsulated as: a. Prior related behavior. This is because self-efficacy is often a result of previous experiences and the confidence gained from successes in related activities. The more success an individual has experienced in a particular type of behavior, the more likely they are to engage in that behavior again, because they perceive themselves as capable.