What is the difference between "confidence" and "self-confidence"

Of course we all know that it is a subtle difference between confidence and self-confidence. But I could not find the question asked (let alone answered) on various sites before; hence I am asking this question.

I am not talking about confidence in others as in "she had great confidence in her mother" or"he had implicit confidence in the bureaucracy", but where confidence obviously refers to self.

Random Examples:

• She played the violin with great confidence.
• He batted with tremendous confidence though it was his first Test match.
• We must always approach life with confidence.
• The management course helped them to develop leadership skills and self-confidence.
• It was a measure of his self-confidence that he left the job before finding another.
• He was very impressed with her boldness and self-confidence.

My question is whether we could use confidence and self-confidence interchangeably wherever confidence obviously refers to self and not others? If not, what is the 'fine difference'?

Solution 1:

Self-confidence is usually related to self-esteem. It is usually put in the context of:

• My self-confidence began to grow.

It is oft-stated in the 1st person. Confidence and self-confidence could theoretically work in 1st person.

• My self-confidence began to grow.
• My confidence began to grow.

A fine difference would be that when using 'confidence' by itself, ambiguity can arise as to what the confidence is aimed at (whether it be you or another person that has been mentioned).

Solution 2:

A good friend gave me this answer today: "In general, 'confidence' can be understood to be "confidence in something" which could also be confidence in one's own abilities or attributes -- but 'self confidence' (literally translated with the same meaning in the standard expressions 'aatma-vishwaasam' in Malayalam, 'than-nambikkai' in Tamil and 'atma-vishwaas' in North Indian languages) means specifically "confidence in oneself," directly related to 'self-assurance' and 'self-belief,' in terms of being a source of inner strength and conviction, especially giving oneself the confidence to overcome obstacles and achieve goals." I found two direct references to this sense of the term in the book "India: a Million Mutinies Now" by Nobel laureate Sir V.S. Naipaul, and these references also give the Indian equivalent term for self-confidence as "atma-vishwaas." This, taken together with the other 2 answers given by kind members here, does seem to make a useful distinction between the two expressions. I would, of course, welcome more answers and interpretations from all!

Solution 3:

Self-confidence is you believe in your self to be able to learn, confidence comes and is acquired after long practicing.