Women and anxious people exhibit distinct forms of underconfidence, according to a recent study by researchers at University College London (UCL). The study reveals that these two groups display two unique types of underconfidence, shedding light on the complexities of confidence and its underlying factors.
In the experiment, individuals with anxiety tended to become less confident in their answers when given more time to reflect, whereas women who initially lacked confidence gained more confidence over time. This finding challenges the notion that underconfidence is a uniform issue, as it appears to be influenced by different factors for women and those with anxiety.
Dr. Sucharit Katyal, the lead author, explains, "Previous studies have shown that women and people with anxiety are more prone to being underconfident in their abilities, even without any difference in actual abilities. However, our study aimed to explore whether women's underconfidence is similar to that of individuals with anxiety."
The study, published in Psychological Medicine, analyzed data from two previous studies involving a total of 1,447 participants. Participants were asked to answer simple questions, such as identifying the color of berries in an image, and then rate their confidence in their answers. The researchers measured the time taken for participants to express their confidence levels.
The study's dynamic computational model revealed that high-anxiety individuals became increasingly less confident as they spent more time on the task, whereas those with low anxiety maintained their confidence. This finding suggests that introspection can lead to negative rumination, further diminishing the confidence of anxious individuals.
Conversely, the study found that the confidence gap between men and women narrowed as the task progressed. Initially, women were less confident than men, but this difference diminished over time. The researchers propose that men and women use different thresholds to assess their certainty, resulting in varying levels of confidence.
The study's implications are significant for understanding and addressing underconfidence. For individuals who are underconfident but not anxious, the researchers suggest that allowing more time to process decisions might boost their confidence. Dr. Katyal emphasizes, "Underconfidence is not a single phenomenon with a single cause. We identified two distinct types of underconfidence, one associated with anxiety and the other more prevalent among women. Different groups reach similar self-underestimation patterns through diverse pathways."
The authors emphasize the need for personalized approaches in mental health treatment and efforts to reduce societal confidence disparities. Professor Steve Fleming, a senior author, states, "By understanding the mechanisms behind these biases, we can develop targeted interventions. For instance, helping anxious individuals manage negative self-evaluations or encouraging reflective decision-making to bridge gender-related confidence gaps."
This research highlights the complexity of underconfidence and the importance of tailored interventions to address it effectively.
