From Jacob Elordi to Kim Kardashian, radical confidence seems to be the new quiet power.Credit: Getty Images
It isnβt even the first time Chalamet has expressed such confidence. While accepting the SAG Award for best lead actor last year, he shared his βpursuit of greatnessβ.
βI want to be one of the greats. Iβm inspired by the greats … Iβm as inspired by Daniel Day-Lewis, Marlon Brando and Viola Davis as I am by Michael Jordan and Michael Phelps. And I want to be up there.β
Garrett Huston, a psychologist from Clarity Health Care, says what weβre seeing is a cultural shift towards more expressive confidence, especially among younger public figures like Chalamet.
Some possible reasons for this shift, he says, include social media and personal branding rewarding visibility and individuality over restraint, the United Statesβ cultural influence in media, and generational rejection of traditional norms.
Confidence vs arrogance
Confidence may be key, but thereβs a fine line between that and arrogance. Principal psychologist at Enriching Lives Psychology Carly Dober says confidence is believing in your abilities and being willing to take on new challenges.
βA confident person acknowledges they have room to grow and learn, are open to feedback and donβt see asking for help as a weakness.β
Arrogance, meanwhile, is more performative and often involves an inflated sense of self-importance. βArrogant people have an exaggerated opinion of their talents and achievements. Theyβre closed to feedback and constructive criticism from others and tend to overreact if someone suggests areas where they could make improvements.β
Is confidence gendered?
Generally, yes. Dober says overt confidence is typically considered attractive and desirable in men, but less so in women.
βConfidence is a trait thatβs highly gendered, like βbossyβ or βaggressiveβ, and women who step outside that gender script can be penalised socially for this in the job market or in relationships,β she says. βConfidence, though, at its core, is gender-neutral, and the paradox here is that if women continue to feel like they canβt or shouldnβt take up space and be confident, then fewer women will demonstrate this.β
Tall poppy syndrome
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Absolute confidence may make some feel uncomfortable, particularly Australians imbued with tall poppy syndrome (our cultural preference for modesty and egalitarianism). Americans, comparatively, are generally more open to self-promotion.
βAustralians generally respond more positively to achievement framed in terms of effort, contribution or teamwork than to overt self-celebration,β Huston says. βPsychologically, [tall poppy syndrome] functions as social norm regulation: keeping people level to help preserve fairness and cohesion.β
However, there are possible downsides to such humility. Huston says it can sometimes discourage healthy self-belief, self-advocacy and the open acknowledgement of success. Without confidence, youβre less likely to begin and persist through a task, not to mention recover if things go wrong.
βTo be clear, confidence doesnβt eliminate doubt, but it reduces avoidance, enabling you to get started even with uncertainty.β
The Dunning-Kruger effect
This is a well-established psychological finding that suggests people with lower competence are more likely to overestimate their ability, while more skilled individuals tend to express greater caution.
βIn everyday life, this means the loudest and most confident is not always the most informed, and what we experience as arrogance is often misplaced certainty rather than genuine self-belief,β Huston says.
This could therefore be another reason why many tend to steer clear of radical confidence β for fear of ultimately (and somewhat ironically) appearing lesser than.
Finding the sweet spot
So, is there a way to channel Chalametβs confidence to smash goals in 2026, while remaining relatable?
Dober says true confidence involves avoiding comparison, seeking positive influences, using positive self-talk and setting realistic goals.
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βYou have to start practising believing in yourself and talking to yourself like you would a good friend,β she says. βIf you believe in yourself, others start to believe in you too. Typically, we go for more opportunities and put ourselves out there when we feel more confident which then in turn allows us to achieve more goals. The lesson here is to shoot your shot.β
Speak with conviction, but remain curious, Huston adds.
βPeople tend to come across as cocky when confidence feels performative or defensive rather than earned,β he says. βYou can express your view without closing the door on others. You can use phrases as simple as βthis is what Iβm thinking. What do you think?β to signal confidence while still inviting connection and collaboration.β
Grounding confidence in values rather than status also helps. Prove your worth by simply doing the job well, by learning and contributing, rather than by always being the βbestβ.
TimothΓ©e Chalametβs performance in Marty Supreme has been widely lauded, so could his radical confidence be warranted?Credit: AP
One could argue Chalametβs comments sit within this sweet spot. He doesnβt just label himself as great, rather he acknowledges the effort he commits to his roles. He also cites other actors like Viola Davis as inspirations, demonstrating a willingness to grow and learn from those around him. His self-assuredness may also arguably be warranted. His performance in Marty Supreme has been widely lauded, with some saying heβs growing into a βgenerational talentβ. So invested in the role is Chalamet that some even believe his self-aggrandising comments were the actor simply embodying his character during press.
So, regardless of how confronting Chalamet-level confidence many initially appear, if youβre able to carefully toe the line between confidence and arrogance and have the chops to back it up, it could see you shine as bright as any Hollywood star this year.
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