What construct helps motivate underachievement along with goals?

• A. Self-regulation
• B. Self-efficacy
• C. Motivation
• D. Self-discipline

Answer: (B)

Self-efficacy is the belief that you can organize and carry out the actions needed to succeed at a task. When someone has strong self-efficacy, they set meaningful goals, put in sustained effort, and keep going even when challenges arise. That sense of capability directly motivates pursuit of goals and helps overcome tendencies toward underachievement, because the task feels doable and progress feels attainable. Building self-efficacy comes from past successes (mastery experiences), seeing others succeed, receiving encouragement from others, and interpreting bodily cues in a positive way. While self-regulation, motivation, and self-discipline all play roles in performance, self-efficacy uniquely links belief in what's possible with the motivation to act toward and persist with those goals.