Final answer:
Achievement motivation is the process that accounts for an individual's direction of behavior, intensity of effort, and persistence toward the attainment of a set goal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process that accounts for an individual's direction of behavior, intensity of effort, and persistence toward the attainment of a set goal is called achievement motivation. Achievement motivation refers to the desire to succeed and accomplish goals. It is driven by the need for achievement, which is one of the social motives identified by researchers.
According to Albert Bandura's theory of self-efficacy, an individual's belief in their own capability to complete a task plays a pivotal role in motivating behavior. If someone has a sincere belief in their ability to achieve at the highest level, they are more likely to take on challenging tasks and persist in their efforts to achieve their goals.
Overall, achievement motivation and self-efficacy are important factors in determining an individual's direction, intensity, and persistence in working toward their goals.