itseluottamus

Itseluottamus, a Finnish term for self-confidence, denotes the belief in one's own abilities and worth. It influences a person’s willingness to act, take on challenges, and persist in the face of setbacks. Itseluottamus can be general, referring to an overall sense of competence, or domain-specific, relating to particular tasks or situations such as public speaking or mathematics.

In psychological usage, itseluottamus is related to but distinct from self-esteem and self-efficacy. General self-confidence concerns broad expectations about one’s capacity to cope with varied demands, while domain-specific confidence focuses on performance in specific tasks. The term is common in education, sports, and workplace studies, where researchers examine how confidence in one’s abilities affects motivation, engagement, and performance.

Development of itseluottamus occurs through experiences of success, constructive feedback, and observing capable peers or role models. A supportive environment, clear goals, and opportunities for mastery contribute to growth, whereas repeated failure, negative feedback, or stereotypes can undermine it. Cultural norms and gender expectations can also shape how confidence is expressed and perceived.

Consequences of higher itseluottamus include greater motivation, resilience, willingness to engage in challenging tasks, and better learning outcomes. Conversely, low confidence can limit participation and increase avoidance of risks. Practical approaches to bolster itseluottamus involve setting achievable goals, providing positive and specific feedback, mentoring, and reframing setbacks as learning opportunities.