Building Confidence

Abstract

In the present context, confidence refers generally to people’s expectancies for success in the various parts of their lives. There are many psychological constructs and attitudinal concepts that help provide explanations for people’s expectancy-related beliefs regarding the degree to which they can predict and even control the outcomes of their behavior. This also includes the “downside” of the concept which refers to lack of confidence or low expectancies for success. In psychology, inquiry into the question of prediction and control is the basis of many concepts and theories concerning expectancy for success. The early part of this chapter contains explanations of many of the most salient concepts regarding the issues of confidence and personal control and the later part contains specific guidelines for creating strategies that help students build positive expectancies for success!