Confidence Can Kill

Today we encourage people to build self-confidence.
Self-confidence is the key theory behind our ever popular self-improvement quests. One must be confident to achieve success, so society wishes us to believe. I believe it creates stupidity in mankind.
What is self-confidence? A lack of fear, an ability to trust yourself and all you do? But to what degree? Is there a unsafe level in one's self-confidence? Sure confidence can kill in high doses. Over-confidence can make the most intelligent individual a true idiot.

Individuals everyday lose their lives to the result of driving recklessly.
Individuals often wander off into the woods while on hunting trips, or recreational pursuits feeling confident they will find their way out. Many don't.
Individuals often leave young children unattended feeling confident they won't go missing. They do.
Individuals often have confidence in their pets, that they will never harm anyone. They do.
Individuals often drive in the winter or walk without care or concern of cold weather. Many freeze to death.
Individuals often like to admire wild animals at close range. Many get attacked.
Individuals often assume a vehicle will stop for them when J-walking. Many don't.
Individuals often don't know how to swim, yet refuse to wear a life-jacket.
Individuals often drink and drive and feel confident?

Individuals ........
The list is truly endless. Is this self-confidence a license for stupidity? Maybe there is something more beneficial in humble pie? What do you think? It might save your life.