Overconfidence really does make some people more successful than others, according to psychologists.
Some may feel it explains the apparent fame and fortune of shameless self publicists like footballers, reality TV stars and celebrities such as Alan Sugar and Piers Morgan.
Those who genuinely believe they are wonderful will do better than others who may be more talented but lack the same self belief, said the university study by researchers at the University of California.
Did Sir Alan Sugar earn his millions by being over-confident? Researchers believe overconfidence really does make some people more successful than others
Piers Morgan is a British Journalist known for his confidence when it comes to asking probing questions
As a result, reality TV stars like the cast of The Only Way Is Essex or Kim Kardashian achieve huge wealth and celebrity status to the consternation of millions.
The study found that the overconfident are masters at self promotion but they are also the ones who most desire a higher social status.
For ordinary workers it can lead to promotion about colleagues with similar talents but without the ability to exude overconfidence, added the report.
In the UK, some may see these traits in plenty of famous people who appear not to necessarily be any more talented than their peers but know how to blow their own trumpet, such as Twitter-mad football badboy Joey Barton for instance.
Kim Kardashian is an outgoing American socialite that has risen to fame this year
People who are overconfident genuinely believe they are ‘more physically talented, socially adept and skilled at their job than they actually are’ said the study.
In terms of climbing the ladder, it does them no harm at all, researchers told the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
But there is a downside. It warned: 'Overconfidence can have detrimental effects on their performance and decision making.'
Those who are overconfident often want power, fame or success, said the report’s co-author Professor Cameron Anderson.
He said: 'Our studies found that overconfidence helped people attain social status.
'People who believed they were better than others, even when they weren’t, were given a higher place in the social ladder.
'And the motive to attain higher social status thus spurred overconfidence.'
Overconfident people will make sure they get noticed, said the researchers.
If two people carry out the same task and achieve the same result, the overconfident one will do it in a way that draws attention to them rather than their colleague, for instance.
When they are in a group they will make sure their voices are heard and others will get the impression they have more ‘clout and prestige’ said Professor Anderson.
He said: 'People are very easily swayed by others’ confidence even when that confidence is unjustified.
'Displays of confidence are given an inordinate amount of weight.'
The researchers conducted a series of six experiments on a group of almost 250 MBA students to test their own levels of overconfidence and their impression on others.
The girls from The Only Way Is Essex have jumped to stardom by playing themselves (L-R: Lucy Mecklenburgh, Billie Faiers, Lauren Pope, Lydia Bright, Jessica Wright and Samantha Faiers)
In one, they were asked to look at a list of historical names, events, books and poems and identify the ones they recognised.
The researchers added some fake names into the list - including Bonnie Prince Lorenzo, Queen Shaddock and Galileo Lovano!
The overconfident students were most likely to say they recognised the fake names, because it makes them look more intelligent than they really are.
Yet the same overconfident students who had pretended to recognise the fake names were also deemed to have the highest social status among the rest of the group.
Instead of being seen as brash, overconfident or even narcissistic, they were perceived as ‘terrific’ and even ‘beloved’ said Prof Anderson.
He added: 'These big participators were not obnoxious, they didn’t say, "I’m really good at this."
'Instead, their behavior was much more subtle. They simply participated more and exhibited more comfort with the task - even though they were no more competent than anyone else.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2188148/Sir-Alan-Sugar-effect-Overconfidence-make-successful-workplace.html#ixzz23XNqCzAc
