Self-Confidence Theory Is a Psychological

Self-Confidence Theory is a psychological and sociological approach to understanding how individuals view themselves in terms of others and how feelings of self-confidence are or are not developed. There is no set theory that explains the process and phenomena of individual self-confidence. Numerous theorist have approached the subject in various ways, each adding to the overall understanding of self-confidence through reasoned argument or a new theory of approach.

Alfred Adler, the founder of individual psychology, theorizes that when humans feel encouraged they simultaneously feel capable of achievement and appreciated in relation to others. This has the effect of encouraging that individual to act in a connected and cooperative way. On the other hand, when an individual is discouraged, they tend to act in unhealthy ways such as through competition, withdrawl or abandoning the act all together.

Understanding that encouragment facilitates feelings of respect, optimism and social interest, Adler argued that all humans have one fundamental desire, which is to fit in with others and thus feel significant as part of a group. In other words, Adler believed humans felt the most self-confident when they were an active and accepted part of a group. This aspiration to be a part of the group is what drives an individual's overall lifestyle, including their thinking, feeling emotion and behavior.

All of this is subordinated to the desire to become part of the group. When they feel they are not being part of the group, they exhibit signs of withdrawal and conflicts often develop. Adler argues that an individual's aspirations are influenced by such factors as heredity and culture. For example, a person who feels inferior during childhood will often develop the goal to obtain security and success and will naturally gravitate towards the group.

On the other hand, an individual who feels independent as a child will gravitate towards a leadership position within the group. To summarize Adler's theory, a person in encouraged to overcome their feelings of insecurity, develop deeper feelings of connectedness and to redirect their striving for significance into more socially beneficial directions. For this reason, constant encouragement stimulates individuals to attempt what was once seen as impossible.

Encouragement also facilitates a growth of confidence, pride and gratification, which thus leads to a greater desire and ability to cooperate with others, leading to a strengthening of the community. Albert Ellis, a founding pioneer in the field of psychotherapy, on the other hand, believed that individual construction of one's experience is the critical point to developing healthy self-confidence. According to Ellis, human beings have to fundamental goals: to continue to live in such a way that maximizes both their happiness and minimalizes their suffering.

All individual action is controlled by these two factors. When an individual is unable to achieve these two goals, they will exhibit irrational behavior that stems for their lack of self-confidence. In other words, if one feels they are failing at achieving happiness, they feel that they are suffering. Feelings of suffering decrease self-confidence, which leads to irrational behavior that only perpetuates the lack of self-confidence.

Ellis' solution to this downward spiral is to focus therapy sessions on teaching individuals about utilizing rational, goal-enhancing thinking that works to not only achieve reachable goals, but also to alter their emotions and behavior for the better. Ellis' belief was that individual who could take charge of their emotions would be rational thinkers and thus would approach conflicts confidently, working towards compromises, minimalizing risks and willingness to sacrifice immediate needs for the more important long-term benefits. Skinner also provides insight into the issue of individual self-confidence.

According to Skinner, individual's act in accordance to their heredity and environment. In other words, underlying all behavior is the assumption that individual behavior is predetermined by learning and reinforcement. In order to acquire new skills, one has to be taught. Thus, individuals can be taught self-confidence through positive reinforcement. For example, if an individual's action results in a positive outcome, they will be more likely to continue to repeat this behavior because it builds confidence.

On the other hand, if the outcome is negative, self-confidence is decreased and that individual is less likely to repeat the behavior. According to Skinner, proper behavior can be modified. Through his behavior modification therapy technique, known as b-mod, one could extinguish a negative behavior by removing the reinforcer and replacing it with desirable reinforcement. Victor Fankl, another self-confidence theorist, argues that all individuals have a healthy and resilient core.

This core allows individuals to overcome adversity through the discovery of the purpose of life and the reaching of personal goals. If a person's self-confidence is lacking, meaning that their core is effected by a feeling of meaninglessness, the solution is to assist the individual with discovering their individual meaning through a focus on goal achievement. Frankl's process of therapy focuses on connecting freedom of will, will to meaning and meaning to life.

If an individual is unable to find meaning, they become hopeless, which creates a feeling of isolation and, because humans are fundamentally social creatures, will lead to a mental.