Final answer:
Maria is described as someone who enjoys the process of engaging in a task and sees challenges as opportunities for growth, which best aligns with a Mastery-oriented approach.
Step-by-step explanation:
When faced with a difficult task, Maria's behavior aligns with someone who is not primarily concerned with the results but rather with the process of engaging in the task, and she enjoys the challenge for its own sake. This type of orientation reflects a focus on self-improvement and the intrinsic value of the activity, rather than on external validation or comparison to others.
The description of Maria is D. Mastery-oriented. A mastery-oriented individual, like Maria, typically seeks to improve their abilities and understands through engaging with the task itself, regardless of the success in terms of outcomes. They value the learning process and are resilient in the face of challenges, often seeing them as opportunities for growth. This contrasts with a performance-oriented approach, which focuses on demonstrating abilities to receive positive judgments from others, and a helpless-oriented approach, which is characterized by a lack of effort in the face of difficulties. Maria's willingness to embrace the challenge without concern for success indicates a mastery orientation.