एक निश्चित पूर्वस्थिती किंवा भविष्यवाणी योग्य आहे की निवडलेली कृती सर्वात चांगली किंवा सर्वात प्रभावी आहे यावर आत्मविश्वास अवलंबून असतो. आत्मविश्वास म्हणजे स्वतःवर "विश्वास ठेवणे". अपयशाची पर्वा न करता एखाद्याचा यशस्वी होण्यावर आवश्कतेपेक्षा जास्त विश्वास असणे म्हणजे अतिआत्मविश्वास किंवा गर्विष्ठपणा.

Confidence is the feeling of belief or trust that a person or thing is reliable. Self-confidence is trust in oneself. Self-confidence involves a positive belief that one can generally accomplish what one wishes to do in the future. Self-confidence is not the same as self-esteem, which is an evaluation of one's worth. Self-confidence is related to self-efficacy—belief in one's ability to accomplish a specific task or goal. Confidence can be a self-fulfilling prophecy, as those without it may fail because they lack it, and those with it may succeed because they have it rather than because of an innate ability or skill.