A person's confidence in performing a behavior and overcoming barriers is known as what?

The term that refers to a person's confidence in performing a behavior and overcoming barriers is self-efficacy. This concept is rooted in Albert Bandura's social cognitive theory and emphasizes the belief in one’s abilities to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments. Individuals with high self-efficacy are more likely to approach challenges with confidence and perseverance, as they believe they can manage obstacles and achieve their goals.

Self-efficacy is distinct from self-esteem, which is about overall self-worth and how one views oneself generally, rather than specific behavioral confidence. Self-regulation refers to the ability to manage one’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in pursuit of long-term goals, which encompasses planning, monitoring, and adjusting efforts, but does not specifically highlight confidence in overcoming barriers. Self-awareness involves the understanding of one's own motivations, thoughts, and feelings but does not directly relate to confidence in performing specific behaviors. Therefore, self-efficacy clearly stands out as the correct answer in this context.