Social psychology studies how your beliefs and assumptions can impact your own behavior and the behavior of those around you. A self-fulfilling prophecy occurs when your expectations cause you to unconsciously act in a way to bring out behaviors that confirm these expectations. When you believe something about yourself, you are more likely to act in ways that align with those beliefs. This can be observed in your interactions with others as well.
You may act in ways that confirm assumptions. This, in turn, reinforces your beliefs about others.
Here is one example: Imagine a student who constantly doubts their ability to do well in school. They may avoid putting time and effort into their work.
Their belief about themselves drives their behavior. Now, think about a student with the same academic potential but with a positive belief system and confidence in their ability. They may work harder and put more effort into their studies because they believe that they can be successful.
Watch the following video to learn more about self-fulfilling prophecies:
Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
Think about a situation when your beliefs or attitudes about yourself had a negative or positive impact on your behaviors. Respond to the following:
How did your beliefs or attitudes shape your behavior?
What does the idea of self-fulfilling prophecy teach you about how you can use your attitude or beliefs to impact your behaviors?
