John's teacher gives him constructive criticism about how to improve the poem he has just written. According to the textbook's discussion of social cognitive theory, what effect is such criticism likely to have on John's self-efficacy for writing poetry, and why?
A) It will probably decrease his self-efficacy, because it communicates the message that he has done a poor job.
B) It will probably decrease his self-efficacy, because it suggests to him that the teacher's standards are substantially higher than his own.
C) It will probably enhance his self-efficacy, because it communicates the message that his teacher cares about him as a human being.
D) It will probably enhance his self-efficacy, because it communicates the message that he has the ability to write a good poem.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to social cognitive theory, constructive criticism can enhance self-efficacy by communicating the message that an individual has the ability to improve and succeed. Therefore, John's teacher's constructive criticism about his poem is likely to enhance his self-efficacy for writing poetry.

John's Teacher Gives Him Constructive Criticism About How to Improve