Individuals with high _____ have been found to stop smoking the moment they decide to do so. What aspect of self is highlighted in this example?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Self-efficacy
Option (1) Self-esteem — Incorrect. Self-esteem is the value judgement a person makes about her or his own worth. Feeling worthy does not by itself mean being able to stop a habit.
Option (2) Self-concept — Incorrect. Self-concept is the way we perceive ourselves and the ideas we hold about our competencies and attributes. It is a view of oneself, not the belief in one’s power to carry out a decision.
Option (3) Self-efficacy — Correct. Self-efficacy is the belief that one controls one’s own life outcomes and has the abilities a situation needs; it is based on Bandura’s social learning theory. People with high self-efficacy have been found to stop smoking the moment they decide to do so.
Option (4) Self-motivation — Incorrect. Self-motivation is the general drive to push oneself towards a goal without outside pressure. It is a wish to act, while the example rests on a person’s belief that she or he can succeed, which is self-efficacy.
Note: The concept in Option (4), ‘self-motivation’, is not in the 2023-24 NCERT, which NTA followed in 2024, or in NCERT (2025-26); explained here for the benefit of the students.
NCERT (2025-26): “Self-efficacy … Self-efficacy is another important aspect of our self. People differ in the extent to which they believe they themselves control their life outcomes or the outcomes are controlled by luck or fate or other situational factors, e.g. passing an examination. A person who believes that s/he has the ability or behaviours required by a particular situation demonstrates high self-efficacy.…” “Self-efficacy … Self-efficacy can be developed. People with high self-efficacy have been found to stop smoking the moment they decide to do so.…” “Self-esteem … Self-esteem is an important aspect of our self. As persons we always make some judgment about our own value or worth. This value judgment of a person about herself/himself is called self-esteem.…” |