Final answer:
Jane's belief in her ability to pass her biology midterm exemplifies self-efficacy, which is an individual's confidence in their ability to complete a task. High self-efficacy is characterized by a positive view of goals and challenges, while low self-efficacy can lead to avoidance of difficult tasks and a focus on negative outcomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jane's belief that she can successfully pass her biology midterm is an example of self-efficacy. This term, which was famously articulated by Albert Bandura, refers to an individual's belief in their own capability to complete a task. High self-efficacy means that individuals believe their goals are within reach, they view challenges as tasks to be mastered, they show a deep interest in their activities, and they quickly recover from setbacks. Conversely, individuals with low self-efficacy may avoid challenging tasks, focus on failures or negative outcomes, and lose confidence if they experience setbacks. Self-efficacy is often situation-specific—someone may feel a high level of confidence in one area (like biology) but not in another (like mathematics).