Final answer:
Self-efficacy is the belief in one's ability to perform well in a specific task or situation. It is influenced by past successes and plays a crucial role in motivating behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
The expectation or belief in one's ability to perform well at a specific task or in a specific situation is called self-efficacy. It is an individual's confidence in their own capabilities. Self-efficacy can be influenced by previous successes or similar experiences. For example, if a student believes they are good at math and have successfully completed math tasks in the past, they are likely to have high self-efficacy in math. Self-efficacy plays a crucial role in motivating behavior and setting future goals.