Question

Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R
Assertion A: People who expect to handle stress often actually do and are happy and satisfied in life.
Reason R: The likelihood that a given behaviour will occur in a specific situation does not depend on individuals' expectancies concerning the outcome of behaviour.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below

• A. Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A
• B. Both A and R are correct but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
• C. A is correct but R is not correct
• D. A is not correct but R is correct

Hint:

Self-efficacy and outcome expectancies act as self-fulfilling prophecies. If you expect you can cope, you are more likely to apply active coping strategies and successfully reduce stress.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks us to analyze the validity of statements concerning stress coping, self-expectancies, and their influence on human behavior as proposed by social-cognitive theories.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

• Assertion A states that people who expect to handle stress effectively often do so and report higher life satisfaction. This is a true statement.

• This aligns with Albert Bandura's theory of self-efficacy, which states that an individual's belief in their ability to perform a task directly determines their stress levels, motivation, and coping success.

• Reason R states that the likelihood of a behavior occurring in a specific situation does not depend on an individual's expectancies regarding the outcome of that behavior. This is false.

• According to Julian Rotter's social learning theory, Behavior Potential ($BP$) is a direct function of Expectancy ($E$) and Reinforcement Value ($RV$), expressed as $BP = f(E \& RV)$.

• This means people are highly likely to perform a behavior if they expect that behavior will lead to a positive, successful outcome.

• Therefore, individual expectancies are major determinants of actual behavioral outcomes, rendering Reason R incorrect.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Assertion A is correct because high coping expectancies promote successful coping, but Reason R is incorrect because behavior is heavily dependent on expectancies.