Self Confidence

Self confidence is “the belief in one’s self and in his or her powers and abilities.”

(Merriam–Webster Online, 2008)

What is self confidence?

Belief in positive achievements Persistence Self-awareness

Attributes

“When we listen to the answers of a mechanic, physician, or other expert and feel that they are not confident, we also tend to fear they do not know what they are talking about.”

(Kröner & Biermann, 2007, p. 589)

Why is self confidence important?

Knowledge Support Experience Gearing up Success

Antecedents

Intrinsic Return: Establishment of Autonomy

Extrinsic Return: Positive Outcomes for Others

Consequences

Differentiate between a lack of self-confidence, lack of knowledge or is the student simply shy & timid

Does the student fail to engage in clinical experiences or classroom dialogue?

Does the student allow others to step forward while he or she remains in the background?

Recognizing lack a of self confidence

Link new challenges to recent successes Timely positive feedback Orchestrate successful events early on Guide student through learning experience

versus measuring what they do not know Asking encouraging questions (avoid the

why ?’s) Answer questions with “yes, and…” versus “no,

but…”

(Karen M. Lundberg, MS, RN, 2008, Nurse Educator)

Confidence Building Strategies

Simulation experiences Role play Peer modeling Story telling Skills reviews Journaling

Other Confidence Building Strategies

“Confidence in one's abilities generally enhances motivation, making it a valuable asset for individuals with imperfect willpower. This demand for self-serving beliefs (which can also arise from hedonic or signaling motives) must be weighed against the risks of overconfidence.”

(Benabou & Tirole, 2002, The Quarterly Journal of Economics, p. 871)

Self Confidence