Confidence is sexy and it can be trained: Examining male social confidence in initial, opposite‐sex interactions

N.P. Li; J.C. Yong; M‐H Tsai; M.H.C. Lai; A.J.Y. Lim; J.M. Ackerman

doi:10.1111/jopy.12568

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Confidence is sexy and it can be trained: Examining male social confidence in initial, opposite‐sex interactions

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Confidence is sexy and it can be trained: Examining male social confidence in initial, opposite‐sex interactions

N.P. Li, J.C. Yong, M‐H Tsai, M.H.C. Lai, A.J.Y. Lim and J.M. Ackerman

Journal of Personality, Vol.88(6), pp.1235-1251

2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12568

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Abstract

Objective We investigated whether men's social confidence in an initial, opposite‐sex chatting context can be improved through a video tutorial and the extent to which being perceived as socially confident results in being seen as more romantically desirable and worthy of future contact. Method Women chatted with men who had received or not received a tutorial on how to handle speed‐dating chats (Study 1: N = 129; Study 2: N = 60) or with male targets selected for having high versus moderate confidence in handling initial, opposite‐sex encounters (Study 3: N = 46). Results Tutorial‐trained men felt more confident going into the chats and they, as well as male targets selected for their confidence, were perceived by female chat partners to be higher in social confidence, status, and dominance. However, only perceptions of social confidence were further associated with being perceived as more romantically desirable (as a short‐term mate) and worthy of future contact. Conclusions Findings indicate that social confidence is trainable and that other‐perceived social confidence can impact the outcomes of social interactions.

Details

Title: Confidence is sexy and it can be trained: Examining male social confidence in initial, opposite‐sex interactions
Authors/Creators: N.P. Li (Author/Creator) - Singapore Management University
J.C. Yong (Author/Creator) - Nanyang Technological University
M‐H Tsai (Author/Creator)
M.H.C. Lai (Author/Creator) - University of Southern California
A.J.Y. Lim (Author/Creator) - College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
J.M. Ackerman (Author/Creator) - University of Michigan
Publication Details: Journal of Personality, Vol.88(6), pp.1235-1251
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
Identifiers: 991005544193207891
Murdoch Affiliation: College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 6 Social Sciences; 6.73 Social Psychology; 6.73.1369 Evolutionary Psychology
Web Of Science research areas: Psychology, Social
ESI research areas: Psychiatry/Psychology