Final answer:
Self-efficacy, a term developed by Albert Bandura, is acquired through modeling or imitation and is related to one's confidence in their abilities. It differs from locus of control, which is about the belief in what controls the outcomes of life's events, the correct option is C).
Step-by-step explanation:
Self-efficacy is learned through modeling or copying others, and it is a cognitive factor affecting learning and personality development, as described by psychologist Albert Bandura. It represents our level of confidence in our abilities, which is honed through our social experiences. Self-efficacy influences how we approach challenges, set and achieve goals, and it dictates which behaviors we might choose to imitate from observed models, as well as our success in those behaviors.
Distinct from self-efficacy, the concept of locus of control, introduced by Julian Rotter in 1966, refers to our belief in whether the outcomes of our actions are controlled internally by ourselves or externally by outside forces. Those with an internal locus of control believe they are the architects of their own fate, while those with an external locus of control feel that outside factors, such as luck or other people, dictate their life outcomes.
Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is that self-efficacy is c. learned through modeling or copying others.