Final answer:
Cognitive theory approach to motivation focuses on how an individual's thoughts, beliefs, and expectations influence their motivation, highlighting the role of cognitive processes and self-efficacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cognitive theory suggests that motivation is a result of people's thoughts, beliefs, expectations, and attitudes. According to this approach, when an individual is faced with a choice or a challenge, they use cognitive processes to weigh the potential outcomes and make decisions based on expected personal rewards. One of the core components within cognitive theories is the concept of self-efficacy, which is an individual's belief in their capability to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments. Albert Bandura, associated with self-efficacy, posits that motivation derives from expectations about the consequences of our actions and that a sense of self-efficacy determines our behaviors and goals.
For example, in an academic setting, a student's motivation to study for an exam can be influenced by their beliefs about their own abilities and the perceived importance of the outcome. If a student believes they are capable of mastering the material (high self-efficacy) and values the satisfaction of achieving a high grade, they are more likely to be motivated to put forth the effort required to study.