Final answer:
Jay's belief that he will improve his singing skills with practice is an example of high self-efficacy, referring to confidence in one's abilities. In contrast, Jane's attribution of a bad grade to her professor's dislike indicates an external locus of control, meaning she sees the outcome as determined by external factors. The correct answer is option: b. high self-efficacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jay's belief that he can improve his singing abilities with practice illustrates high self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is our level of confidence in our own abilities, which influences how we approach challenges and goals. Those with high self-efficacy believe that their goals are attainable and view challenges as tasks to be mastered. Despite Jay being a terrible singer at the moment, his confidence in his potential to grow and succeed in singing publicly shows that he possesses a strong belief in his capability to enhance his skills through perseverance and effort.
In comparison, if Jane believes she received a poor grade due to the professor disliking her, this demonstrates an external locus of control. This is because she attributes her academic outcome to external factors beyond her personal control rather than her own efforts or abilities. Locus of control pertains to our belief about how much power we have over the events in our lives, with an external locus being centered on influences outside oneself.