Final answer:
Expectancy, as mentioned in the scenario about Tom, refers to the belief that one's effort will result in desired performance goals, which is true. This concept links closely to expectancy theory in motivation and is supported by the Thomas theorem, affirming the powerful influence of beliefs on actual outcomes. The concept is also related to self-efficacy, which is an individual's belief in their ability to succeed in specific situations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Tom is of the belief that the more effort that he puts into his job, the better he will perform' is indeed expectancy according to expectancy theory in psychology and motivation. This is because expectancy theory suggests that individuals are motivated to act in a certain way because they expect that the action will lead to a desired outcome. This process involves several components, including expectancy itself, which is the belief that one's effort will result in attainment of desired performance goals.
Another motivation theory, the Thomas theorem, also supports the idea that an individual's behavior can be influenced by their beliefs and expectations. It suggests that if an individual believes a situation to be real, it can have real consequences. For instance, believing that hard work will lead to better performance can indeed lead to such an outcome because the belief motivates the individual to put in more effort.
The concept of self-efficacy is also relevant to a person's belief in their ability to perform well based on their effort. High levels of self-efficacy lead to increased confidence and thus, potentially, better performance in a job or task.