In a nutshell, some scientists believe that traits such as confidence, optimism and shyness may have genetic influences that play a part, along with environment and external factors.
Myth #1: You Need to Be Born Confident
Absolutely not! Nobody is born confident. Confidence is something you develop as you go through life and as you put yourself in new situations or new environments. When you see others who ooze confidence, they weren't born that way.
The Role of Genetics in Confidence Development
Although genetics may account for up to 50% of confidence, this does not imply that confidence is a fixed feature. Our brain chemistry and our levels of confidence can change as a result of certain character trait-related genes that can turn on and off.
It can start just because a child feels safe, loved, and accepted. It can start when a baby gets positive attention and loving care. As babies become toddlers and young children, they're able to do some things all by themselves. They feel good about themselves when they can use their new skills.
Confidence is not an innate, fixed characteristic. It's an ability that can be acquired and improved over time.
Confident kids come from confident parents. So don't be shy about talking about personal qualities, skills, and successes. “Parents should talk about their own accomplishments: 'I put in a lot of effort into this project at work, and I did a nice job because I spent time on it,'” Lesack says.
Studies have shown that self-esteem reaches a peak in one's 50s or 60s, and then sharply drops in old age (4–7). This is a characteristic change, so it is important to reveal about when self-esteem peaks across the life span.
If your child is a confident child, you must have observed how good her or she is at something, do not feel the need to show off or prove to people of their abilities. He or she does not feel the need of validation by anyone. He or she knows what he or she is and what he or she is capable of.
When parents are over-involved, their excessive control over how their children define themselves in the world provides few opportunities for the child to self-reflect and have his or her own positive thoughts and feelings. In both cases, the development of self-confidence and self-esteem are compromised.
People who are confident in their intellectual abilities tend to have a higher IQ, a study finds. Those who have confidence bordering on arrogance do better in academic tests. People with higher IQs tend to agree with statements like “I believe my own ideas are superior to others.”
After a detailed evaluation, they concluded that self-esteem keeps rising throughout one's lifetime. It hits a plateau during teen years - 11 years to 15 years, but it never drops.
Self-esteem first begins to rise between ages 4 and 11, as children develop socially and cognitively and gain some sense of independence. Levels then seem to plateau — but not decline — as the teenage years begin from ages 11 to 15, the data show.
Signs of low self-esteem include: saying negative things and being critical about yourself. joking about yourself in a negative way. focusing on your negatives and ignoring your achievements.
Causes of low self-esteem
Unhappy childhood where parents (or other significant people such as teachers) were extremely critical. Poor academic performance in school resulting in a lack of confidence. Ongoing stressful life event such as relationship breakdown or financial trouble.
She Practices Authenticity and Doesn't Conform
A confident woman isn't a walking cookie cutter. She doesn't feel the need to fit in and conform to others' standards, body shape, style, or beliefs. She seeks to understand herself and stands strong in who she is, embracing her beautiful uniqueness — flaws and all.
If children don't feel loved and valued, they may start to doubt themselves, their abilities, and their self-worth. As children get older, they will naturally experience more academic pressure – and they may not feel like they are measuring up to their peers, which can cause low self-esteem.
Here's how to reap the rewards of being more comfortable in your own skin. Researchers have consistently found a correlation between confidence and success. Confident people are perceived as being more attractive, they're better at sales and do well in the front of the room.
Most children will have dips in self-esteem as they go through different stages or challenges in life, and there are different pressures that may affect them - including social media, bullying, exams, family problems and abuse.
Previous studies in the US have indicated that first-born adolescents are more likely to have higher self-esteem than other siblings and only children (18), whereas middle-born adolescent males are found to have lower self-esteem (19).
The least mature status, and one common in many children, is identity diffusion. Identity diffusion is a status that characterizes those who have neither explored the options nor made a commitment to an identity.
Lerner (2009) described PYD as a process that promotes the “5Cs”: competence, confidence, connection, character, and caring.
Sometimes called the six key elements of building trust, the 6 C's are the essential skills and attributes that will help you enhance the confidence in your relationships: character, caring, competence, consistency, credibility, and communication.