Is Confidence Contagious?

Vince Lombardi famously said, “Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence.” But is this exactly true? When it comes to football or any group sport, it can be impossible to work together if your teammates aren’t as confident in their team or themselves. Having a team leader who pumps up other players  can lead a team to victory – but what about in the real world?

After ENTITY talked to different women ranging from 18 to 23-years-old, it seems that “confidence” and “contagious” aren’t always a package deal. On the one hand, it isn’t unusual to witness women holding up two different shirts and asking which one would be better for a first date – or even to hear confidence-boosting comments like, “Dang girl – you’ll blow him away!” In other words, being with friends who exude self-assurance can inspire people to be more self-confident themselves.

On the other hand, though, strangers who seem overly confident might also appear self-absorbed. This arrogance can cause an opposite, negative reaction. As one of the women told ENTITY, “Confidence is contagious for me if I’m with my friends or something. MAYBE. Otherwise, confidence can sometimes be intimidating for me.”

To a point, science supports the idea of contagious confidence. In fact, because humans automatically mimic others’ emotional expressions – whether a micro frown or smile – people can “catch” others’ emotions. This means that if a woman near you is happy, sad or confident, you might display those emotions too! The people most at risk for “catching” feelings? Those who pay attention to the emotions of others, value relationships over independence and whose emotions are commonly influenced by sensory feedback.

But why should you care about surrounding yourself with confident men and women? According to various research studies:

• Research in Basic and Applied Social Psychology found that when someone is confident and pictures themselves succeeding in the future, they’re more likely to achieve this success. In particular, encouragement and self-confidence can help people chase – and reach – their occupational dreams. So if you really want that promotion, maybe you shouldn’t be hanging out with Negative Nancy at work!
• A study by Washington University in St. Louis found that more confident men and women are also more accurate when guessing others’ reactions to them. For instance, confident people are more likely to correctly gauge whether meeting someone for the first time went well…or not so well. Whether you’re seeking your soul mate or trying to become a successful business woman, being aware of other feelings can be a major secret weapon!
• Maybe you’re creative, independent and hard-working…but, according to Science Daily, confidence is actually the key to being a good leader. As one leadership expert explains, when leaders are confident, this allows their subordinates to be more creative and confident. Not only is confidence contagious, but it can help your company’s bottom line!

When it comes to self-confidence, women who exhibit it seem to have an advantage in the business world and in their private lives. However, to receive the most benefits – and spread your Beyonce-worthy confidence to everyone nearby – women should be careful to avoid arrogance that puts others down.

So, is confidence contagious – and does that help or hurt others? Personal testimonies and scientific research seems to show that, as long as confidence comes from a pure place, a radiant person can make everyone around her else glow equally bright.