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The role of bravado and self-confidence
The challenger stepped up to his much broader opponent without hesitation, his posture bulging with self-confidence. With a big mouth, he tried to make an impression and win over the crowd. He shouted provocative statements such as: “Size doesn’t matter, look what I can do!” His body language radiated strength and determination, despite the enormous difference in stature. It seems he believed that his bravado would be sufficient to turn the situation to his advantage and make the larger man back down.
Overconfidence as a pitfall
However, what this know-it-all overlooked is that self-confidence and bravado only get you so far. When you take on someone who is not only twice as broad but clearly also twice as strong, the rules of the game change. In this case, the challenger’s overconfidence proved to be his greatest enemy. His opponent was undeterred by the verbal abuse and remained calm and composed. This gave him a psychological advantage over the agitated challenger.
