Which of the following motivational theories primarily describes people's explanations for their success or failure on a given task?

Behavioral-learning theory emphasizes the role of environmental factors and reinforcement in shaping behavior rather than focusing on internal explanations for success or failure. It does not address how individuals perceive the causes of their achievements or setbacks, making it less relevant to the question.

Human-needs theory, particularly as proposed by Maslow, identifies a hierarchy of needs that motivate human behavior. While it explains what drives individuals to act, it does not specifically deal with how people explain the outcomes of their actions, such as successes or failures in specific tasks.

Expectancy theory focuses on the expected outcomes of actions and the value individuals place on those outcomes, emphasizing motivation rather than explanation. It describes how anticipation of success influences behavior but does not directly address the reasoning behind perceived successes or failures in task performance.