Maria Thinks That She Is Going to Do Poorly on Her

Multiple Choice

Maria thinks that she is going to do poorly on her exam because she's been told that most students do poorly on this instructor's tests. She tells herself that she will probably get a low grade. When the exam is graded, Maria, in fact, does poorly on it. What barrier to self-esteem does Maria's thinking exhibit?

A) self-distortion
B) self-fulfilling prophecy
C) self-presentation
D) self-preservation
E) self-identification