An individual’s belief about their own ability to perform in a given setting is called:

• A. Self-Esteem
• B. Self-Concept
• C. Self-Efficacy
• D. Regression

Answer: (C)

Self-efficacy is the belief that you can organize and execute the actions required to achieve a task in a specific situation. That exactly matches the idea of believing in your own ability to perform in a given setting. It’s different from self-esteem, which is your overall sense of worth as a person, and from self-concept, which is your general perception of who you are. It’s also not regression, which is a defensive pattern where a person reverts to earlier behaviors under stress. Self-efficacy is task- and situation-specific, and it often shapes how much effort you put in, how long you persevere, and how you cope with challenges.