The self-fulfilling prophecy and the Pygmalion effect are related psychological concepts. Although some people might confuse them as being one and the same they have differences in their definitions and applications.
Further reading:
Self-Fulfilling Prophecy:
- A self-fulfilling prophecy is a belief or expectation that influences a person's behavior in such a way that it causes the belief to come true.
- In other words, when an individual expects a certain outcome, they may unknowingly behave in a manner that brings about that outcome.
- This can happen on an individual level or in social situations. For example, if a student believes they will fail a test, they may not study as hard, leading to a lower grade.
Pygmalion Effect:
- The Pygmalion effect, also known as the Rosenthal effect, refers specifically to interpersonal expectations and how they can influence a person's performance.
- It is based on the idea that higher expectations lead to an increase in performance, while lower expectations lead to a decrease in performance.
- The term is often used in educational contexts, where a teacher's expectations of a student can impact the student's academic achievement.
In summary:
- The self-fulfilling prophecy is a broader concept that encompasses situations where an individual's beliefs about a future outcome influence their behavior and contribute to the realization of that outcome.
- The Pygmalion effect is a specific manifestation of the self-fulfilling prophecy, focusing on the influence of expectations on interpersonal performance, particularly in educational settings. The key difference lies in the scope and context of these concepts.
