Final answer:
Self-efficacy is the belief in one's abilities to take action successfully and perform specific tasks. It's an essential concept in psychology and varies from one activity to another, impacting one's approach to challenges and persistence during setbacks.
Step-by-step explanation:
Your belief in your ability to take action successfully in order to perform a specific task is called Self-efficacy. This term was coined by the psychologist Albert Bandura and refers to your confidence in your capabilities to execute actions required for desired outcomes. People with high self-efficacy approach difficult tasks as challenges to be mastered, whereas those with low self-efficacy may doubt their own abilities and shy away from challenging tasks. It's important to note that self-efficacy is a belief that can vary from one activity to another; for instance, someone might feel capable and confident in one area (like English literature) but less so in another (like mathematics).