What can significantly influence a person's effort and persistence in overcoming challenges?

The influence of verbal persuasion on a person's effort and persistence in overcoming challenges is quite significant because it revolves around the feedback and encouragement individuals receive from others. When someone expresses confidence in a person's abilities or encourages them to strive for success, it can boost that person’s motivation and self-belief. This positive reinforcement can lead to increased effort, as the individual feels more capable of facing challenges, thus enhancing their resilience.

Research supports that verbal persuasion can have a profound effect on self-efficacy, which directly relates to one's motivation and engagement with difficult tasks. When people feel supported and believe that others think they can succeed, they are more likely to put in the necessary effort and persist despite obstacles.

In contrast, while mastery experiences, vicarious experiences, and physiological states all play vital roles in shaping a person's motivation and resilience, their impact on effort and persistence can vary. Mastery experiences involve personal successes that build confidence over time, vicarious experiences come from observing others succeed and help in understanding what is possible, and physiological states can influence emotional responses and mindset. However, the direct impact of verbal encouragement in shaping immediate effort and persistence is particularly pronounced, making it a powerful tool in motivating individuals to tackle challenges.