Eileen is reluctant to go out for the school soccer team. We want to enhance her self-confidence about becoming a successful soccer player. If we consider the textbook's recommendations for communicating optimistic attributions, the best thing we can say to Eileen is:
A) "Some people are just naturally good soccer players, and I've seen signs that you're probably one of them."
B) "You have some natural athletic ability, and learning and practicing new techniques will make you even better."
C) "Skill in soccer is totally a function of how much time you spend working at the game."
D) "The game of soccer is largely a matter of luck. Some days are good ones and some days are bad. You just never know how things will go."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Choice B provides both the acknowledgement of Eileen's existing ability and the potential for improvement through learning and practice. This attribution encourages a growth mindset and emphasizes the importance of effort rather than innate talent. Additionally, it avoids the pessimistic attribution of luck mentioned in option D, which could possibly decrease Eileen's self-confidence.

Eileen Is Reluctant to Go Out for the School Soccer