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Self-fulfilling Prophecies

Definition

A self-fulfilling prophecy is a prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true due to the positive feedback between belief and behavior.

Analogy

Think of a self-fulfilling prophecy like setting an alarm clock. If you set your alarm for 7 am, you're predicting that you'll wake up at that time. Because of this prediction (and the alarm), you do indeed wake up at 7 am. The prediction caused the outcome.

Related terms

Expectancy Theory: This theory suggests that our behaviors are motivated by what we expect as the outcome. In other words, if we expect a certain result, we will behave in a way that should lead to those results.

Confirmation Bias: This is a tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses while giving disproportionately less consideration to alternative possibilities.

Stereotype Threat: This refers to being at risk of confirming negative stereotypes about one's group. It can lead individuals to perform below their potential which then appears to confirm the stereotype - another form of self-fulfilling prophecy.