Self-fulfilling prophecy

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Self-fulfilling prophecy

A self-fulfilling prophecy is a prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true, due to positive feedback between belief and behavior. The concept is often used in psychology, sociology, and economics to describe how expectations can influence outcomes.

Origins and Definition

The term "self-fulfilling prophecy" was coined by the American sociologist Robert K. Merton in 1948. Merton defined it as "a false definition of the situation evoking a new behavior which makes the originally false conception come true." In other words, a belief or expectation, whether correct or not, affects the outcome of a situation or the way a person or group will behave.

Mechanism

The mechanism of a self-fulfilling prophecy involves three main steps: 1. **Expectation**: An individual or group holds a belief or expectation about a situation or another person. 2. **Behavior**: This belief influences their behavior towards the situation or person. 3. **Outcome**: The behavior causes the expectation to come true, reinforcing the original belief.

Examples

In Education

In the context of education, a teacher's expectations about a student's performance can influence the student's actual performance. This phenomenon is known as the Pygmalion effect. If a teacher believes a student is capable and expects them to succeed, they may provide more encouragement and support, leading to better performance by the student.

In Economics

In economics, self-fulfilling prophecies can be seen in financial markets. For example, if investors believe that a stock will rise, they may buy more of it, driving up its price and thus fulfilling their own prediction.

In Sociology

In sociology, self-fulfilling prophecies can contribute to the perpetuation of social stereotypes. If a group is stereotyped as being less capable, they may receive fewer opportunities, which can lead to poorer performance and reinforce the stereotype.

Related Concepts

• Placebo effect
• Nocebo effect
• Confirmation bias
• Expectation theory
• Labeling theory

See Also

• Pygmalion effect
• Golem effect
• Rosenthal effect
• Thomas theorem