The Science of Confidence
- The McQueen Academy
- Oct 14
- 2 min read
We are often shown the social effects of confidence. Confident students have been recognised as ‘more willing to learn’ and have been noted to frequently ‘challenge themselves’. As a result, confidence has been deemed as the ‘number one predictor of academic achievement.’
Despite our knowledge of the many social effects of confidence on students (and people in general), we are not commonly informed of the scientific processes and effects of confidence. We took it upon ourselves to find those answers and we came across the BBC Science Focus article: Confidence is a trick that can be taught. It explores the findings of clinical psychologist, Professor Ian Roberston and his analyses of the relationship between the brain and confidence. He supports our belief that confidence isn’t a personality trait by emphasising that ‘it isn’t a fixed trait, but rather a way of thinking and behaving that can be learned’.
He highlights that confidence is a ‘self-reinforcing feedback system powered by action, reward and memory’. When rewarded, your brain ‘learns from success and strengthens your belief that you can do it again.’
Dopamine is one of the fuels of this system, which is released ‘in response to rewards’ and ‘in anticipation of them’. Its release prior to an event encourages us to repeat the behaviour that brought us the experienced rewards - a process coined as 'reinforcement learning'. When we release dopamine in anticipation of a reward, we ‘strengthen the connection between what [we] do and the reward [we] expect’.
Confidence does not only encourage the release of dopamine but can also reshape our brains. Robertson highlights that ‘confidence is like compound interest’ as winning once increases the likelihood of larger successes. These successes then act as a ‘neural buffer against stress’, enabling us to better manage our cortisol levels in high-stress situations.
Developing a confidence mindset is essential for young people as it not only enables them to achieve high grades but also creates a coping mechanism that can rewire the way that they view themselves and their opportunities.
Did you know about any of these biological effects of confidence?
Articles referenced: https://www.ncfe.org.uk/all-articles/confidence-benefits-learners/
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