What reasoning might justify an individual's confidence in winning a contest due to high personal investment?

A high personal investment in a contest can lead to an individual feeling justified in their confidence due to their emotional involvement and dedication to the outcome. This emotional attachment often manifests as wishful thinking, where the individual may overestimate their chances of success based on their desire to win rather than an objective assessment of their skills or the competition.

When someone invests significant time, effort, or resources into something, it can create a strong belief in their ability to succeed, even if it might not be entirely rational. This type of confidence can stem from the hope and expectation that their commitment will translate into success.

This rationale emphasizes the psychological aspect of competition, where the investment creates a bias in favor of a desired outcome, overshadowing any neutral likelihood of winning based on factual elements such as skill level, experience, or competitor strength.