[cartoonworld]

I am not intending to conflate emotions with cognitive bias, although since both are product of the brain they are of course related. I see why you thought that, my apologies, I may have skipped something important there.

It's just that your emotions about a particular attribute or situation will possibly be subject to and definitely interact with various cognitive bias.

Someone who is bad at reciting book reports might infer they are just not good at public speaking. Because they believe it is so, they may attribute their failures to this quality that they believe they possess.

But what if the failure isn't an attribute like being bad at speaking, but a side effect of normal anxiousness and inexperience? Will he or she recognize this, or are they likely to harbor a bias or explanation that confirms their belief? Would they be motivated to reason about why they are no good at it, and therefor shouldn't join the debate team in order to avoid experiencing speaking anxiety?

When the English teacher later asks them to read a passage, might they feel shame and resentment towards the teacher and themselves? If they feel the shame and resentment, I think they might experience cognitive dissonance, and reason that they are bad at speaking, they have stage fright. That would explain the fear and anger.

Finally, how likely are they to simply trust their mom who suggests they stick it out, and try to get a passing grade in their public speaking course?