Meera's diary, her reminders to herself and her rewards together show…

Meera, a Class 12 student in Pune, wants to become a doctor. She gives up weekend outings with her friends so that she can prepare for an entrance test that is still months away. Before each study session she tells herself, "Finish two chapters first, then check your phone." She keeps a diary of the hours she studies each day, and when her mock-test score improves she treats herself to a movie with friends. Her pen-friend Anna, from Germany, writes that she sees herself as quite separate from other people and from nature. Meera replies that she feels her self is a part of her family and of the world around her.

Meera's diary, her reminders to herself and her rewards together show her ability to organise and monitor her own behaviour. Identify this ability.

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 3

The correct answer is Option (3) → Self-regulation

Option (1) Self-esteem — Incorrect. Self-esteem is the value a person places on himself or herself, a judgement of self-worth. It is about how one feels about oneself.

Option (2) Self-efficacy — Incorrect. Self-efficacy is the belief that one has the ability or behaviours a situation needs. It is a belief about ability.

Option (3) Self-regulation — Correct. Self-regulation is our ability to organise and monitor our own behaviour. Meera's diary (observation of own behaviour), reminders (self-instruction) and movie rewards (self-reinforcement) are its techniques.

Option (4) Self-concept — Incorrect. Self-concept is the way we see ourselves and the ideas we hold about our abilities and qualities. It is a picture of oneself.

NCERT (2026-27): “Self-regulation
Self-regulation refers to our ability to organise and monitor our own behaviour. People, who are able to change their behaviour according to the demands of the external environment, are high on self-monitoring.”

“A number of psychological techniques of self-control have also been suggested. Observation of own behaviour is one of them. This provides us with necessary information that may be used to change, modify, or strengthen certain aspects of self. Self-instruction is another important technique. We often instruct ourselves to do something and behave the way we want to. Such instructions are quite effective in self-regulation. Self-reinforcement is the third technique. This involves rewarding behaviours that have pleasant outcomes. For example, you may go to see a movie with friends, if you have done well in an examination. These techniques have been tried out and found quite effective with respect to self-regulation and self-control.”