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SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY Week 4 DB2
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A self-fulfilling prophecy is an expectation that, because it has been accepted as true,
results in its own fulfillment. In other words, if we expect something to happen or be true then
our expectations will become reality. The lunch meeting between your friend and the new person
is a perfect example of self-fulfilling prophecies at work – you expected there to be common
ground so therefore you found this quickly and had a great conversation!
Self-fulfilling prophecies are present in many different aspects of life such as education,
career and relationships. For example, when students believe they will not excel academically
they tend to have lower grades than those who perceive themselves as capable learners. This
concept also applies when it comes to jobs where individuals often develop performance patterns
based on what others think about them (Stolle & Slain 1997). Ultimately this can lead people
down either successful paths or ones marred by failure depending on how others perceive them
(Madon et al 2018).
On the flip side, positive expectations can help shape positive outcomes just like negative
beliefs do with negative outcomes. Educators can use self-fulfilling prophecies for good by
encouraging their students through high standards while providing necessary support along the
way in order to increase their chances of success (Aronson et al 2019). This approach can also be
applied to relationships where having high expectations for the other person can lead them to
meeting those expectations.
In conclusion, self-fulfilling prophecies are powerful tools that have the potential of
shaping our lives in many ways. Positive expectations and beliefs should always be encouraged
whether it’s in a classroom, a workplace or a relationship as this leads not only to desired
outcomes but also creates an environment that fosters growth and development.
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Reference
Stolle, D. & Slain, D. (1997). Self-fulfilling prophecies: A social psychological view of gender
differences in mathematics and science learning. International Journal of Educational
Research, 27(8), 803-813.
Madon, S., Jussim, L., Eccles J., & Palumbo P.(2018). Self‐fulfilling prophecies: Social
expectations as causes and consequences of people’s thoughts, feelings and
behaviors .American Psychologist , 73(7), 901–916 Aronson E., Fried C., Good C.(2019).
Using self‐fulfilling prophecies to improve education: A metatheoretical analysis. British
Journal of Educational Psychology, 89(3), 377–399.
