By Joseph J. Bucci ——Bio and Archives--June 4, 2024

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There is a lovely quote I found while looking into the science of self-confidence and belief. The quote comes from author Katie Kacvinski, who wrote, “It's amazing how far you're willing to go when someone believes in you” (Kacvinski, 2012). I found this quote on a number of social media posts and wondered about the source. The source of the quote is a fiction novel written by Kacvinski. Being a little bit of a nerdy researcher, I asked myself the question, “So is there any research that supports this?” Is there research that supports the idea that people will go to great lengths to achieve something if they know that someone believes in them?

I found some tangential research on our own beliefs and how they can empower us or limit us. There are confirmation bias studies, which refer to a person’s tendency to look for and interpret information that is consistent with their beliefs (Casad & Luebering, 2024). So, for example, once I make a decision on a matter, I look for information to support my thinking. I may also search for information to support my expectations (Casad & Luebering, 2024). This can work positively or negatively. Another way to say this is “Belief dictates behavior.” What I believe about someone or something – even what I believe about myself – will be demonstrated in how I act towards others, and how I act towards myself. According to CEO and author Susan Steinbrecker, success or failure starts with a thought. Repeated thoughts over time become beliefs. These beliefs dictate our behavior as mentioned previously – they run the show as Steinbrecker says (Steinbrecker,........

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