Is confidence all in your genes?

Yes, says research. But what does that mean if you’re not naturally hardwired with self-belief, asks Alex Lloyd

It’s been called life’s enabler, the magic ingredient that turns ability and ambition into action. Confidence is a prized personality trait in our competitive society, increasing your chances of success and allowing you to bounce back from bumps in the road.

We’ve all met that person who appears born full of self-assurance, but is confidence in your genes?

Yes, according to behavioural geneticists, who have delved into the DNA of thousands of people to assess how much the cards you are dealt at conception affect your personality.

But it isn’t as simple as a single ‘confidence gene’. Instead, there is a spectrum of genetic variations that make some more predisposed to it than others.

“Confidence is dependent on personality type, such as the extent to which you are an optimist, your level of self-esteem, if you are extroverted, open to experience and conscientious,” says Dr William Davies of Cardiff University Behavioural Genetics Group.

“There are hundreds, if not thousands, of factors which can influence complex behavioural traits. Each one has a very small effect, but working together, they give you your personality profile. It overlaps with the genetics of intelligence too. The more skilled you are, the more likely you are to be confident, but you could also recognise your limitations and suffer imposter syndrome.”

While assessing the innate confidence levels of an individual is nearly impossible, studies have given scientists an understanding of the way certain people may be wired for success. When researchers from King’s College, London, took a group of identical and non-identical twins, they found a hereditary element to their self-perception. Those with greater natural belief in their abilities tended to perform better in education against those of similar intelligence.

The feel-good hormone serotonin could also be a factor, according to American neuropsychologist Stephen Suomi, as people with higher levels tend to be less anxious and fearful. His studies of multiple generations of rhesus monkeys show some babies are biologically more confident due in part to variations in their serotonin transporter gene – one we share with our primate cousins.

But even when the genetic lottery fails to grant you a head start in the confidence race, that doesn’t mean you can’t outperform the person in pole position.

“The way genes work for complex traits is not the same as things like eye colour,” says Professor Thalia Eley, an expert in developmental behavioural genetics at King’s College. “You are not born with confidence in the same way you are born with blue eyes. The genetics influencing confidence account for about 40 per cent of the differences in confidence between people.

“You might be born with a lot of genes that would be likely to make you very confident or very unconfident, though most people will be somewhere in the middle. The rest of those differences are down to the experiences you have.”

She says confidence falls into two categories, social and ability, and your genes influence your starting point for both. However, you can get into vicious or virtuous cycles depending on the situations you are exposed to, like a critical parent or encouragement to try things you find challenging.

“It’s not nature versus nurture – it’s both. You still have control, whatever your genes say,” she says.

This is the approach taken by Lucy Baker, founder of She Coaches

Confidence and host of The Confidence Rooms podcast, who works with clients to strengthen their self-belief.

“Confidence is that inner feeling of trusting yourself and your abilities,” says Lucy. “It allows you to take opportunities without fear, speak your mind and build strong relationships.

“There’s a misconception that it means arrogance or brashness. This is not true. Confidence calms you down, gives you clarity and even a quietness that allows you to make considered decisions.”

While Lucy coaches both sexes, she says women predominantly seek help and many were confident children until puberty, circumstances or difficult events like the pandemic dented it. “Science shows we can rewire our brains, even as adults, by changing our thinking and habits.”

Only you can build your inner confidence, says Lucy, and you must treat it like a muscle, which means exercising it regularly.

“You don’t get confidence from other people. Winning a pay rise or a compliment will only boost it temporarily and if you wait for these things to happen, you could be waiting a long time. Remember, your DNA is not your destiny.”

‘‘ Confidence calms you down, gives you clarity so you can make decisions